This photo shows North Korean athletes with badges bearing the images of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, former North Korean leaders, at Hangzhou, China, Friday, a day before the opening of the Asian Games. A special exhibition highlighting the human rights violations in North Korea is being held for service members, the Ministry of Unification said Friday. Yonhap

A special exhibition highlighting the human rights violations in North Korea is being held for service members, the Ministry of Unification said, Friday.

In collaboration with the military and human rights organizations, the ministry launched the project last week, which will continue until April in 2024.

The exhibition, which displays photos and testimonies of victims among other content, aims to raise awareness among South Korean troops of the dire human rights situation in the North, the ministry said, adding that all active-duty soldiers would get to see the materials.

This is part of the ministry’s renewed effort to promote the issue in South Korea and abroad under Minister Kim Yung-ho, who seeks to strengthen international cooperation to increase pressure on the regime.

In a statement released for the opening of the 20th North Korea Freedom Week on Sept. 17, Kim said speaking the truth about North Korea’s rights abuses would eventually lead to the actual improvement as such voices have the power its leaders cannot ignore.

With this belief, Kim said the ministry will take a more active role in developing programs, possibly in collaboration with like-minded governments and private organizations.