Newly appointed U.N. special rapporteur for North Korean human rights Elizabeth Salmón said one of her top priorities will be to open lines of dialogue with DPRK authorities, issuing her first statement upon assuming the role on Monday.

Salmón said her approach stems from the fact that the “outright lack of dialogue channels” with Pyongyang has been one of the “greatest difficulties” to improving the human rights situation in North Korea.

“Therefore, it is one of my top priorities to make the utmost effort to build opportunities and open spaces to exchange views with the Government (…) These efforts must