The U.N.'s point man on North Korean human rights says humanitarian aid to the North should be unconditional if effective monitoring can be assured.

In a news conference in Seoul Thursday, United Natios Special Rapporteur Vitit Muntarbhorn said North Korea's rights situation and the question of continued aid for the North will likely take center stage under the new government in Seoul.

He noted that emergency aid, in particular, is usually unconditional, not reciprocal. He stressed that humanitarian aid must continue.

The Thai national also cited prisoners of war, missing persons and protection and support for North Korean escapees as the other top human rights concerns between the two Koreas.