South Korea is hosting an international conference on North Korean human rights violations at the Seoul Press Center.

Hosted by the Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights, the meeting will highlight the North’s denial of human rights violations and discuss ways to resolve the problem through international solidarity.

Those attending the 2009 International Conference on North Korean Human Rights include domestic and international human rights advocates including David Hawk, the former head of the U.S. office of Amnesty International.

The South Korean government is partially sponsoring the event, to the tune of 35 million won.

Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho delivered a congratulatory speech at the opening of the annual conference.