Human Rights Watch is urging U.S. President Barack Obama to take a strong stance on North Korean human rights issues during talks in South Korea this week.

The New York-based group’s deputy Asia director, Elaine Pearson, said North Korea's nuclear ambitions have overwhelmed all other issues for too long, adding that Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak can raise the profile on human rights.

The group said issues the two leaders should address include public executions, detention abuses, punishment of North Koreans who are repatriated from China, and workers' rights.