A/HRC/7/20 page 20 − The Special Rapporteur affirms the international dimension of the abductions issue which affects the nationals of Japan and of other countries. He calls for the international community to make concerted efforts to ensure accountability on the issue and to influence the country to settle the issue expeditiously and effectively. − The Special Rappporteur welcomes the opportunity provided by Japan’s 2006 law concerning human rights in the country and other relevant measures to offer protection and support to the various groups and persons seeking asylum from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. − The Special Rapporteur is encouraged by Japan’s signature of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and invites all countries to ratify this Convention and to ensure its effective implementation at the national and local levels. − The Special Rapporteur underlines the need to assist all victims of the human rights situation in the country in a sustained and comprehensive manner, bearing in mind the physical, psychological and other damage incurred, and to offer redress based upon the responsibility to protect people from human rights violations, bolstered by international solidarity to ensure such responsibility. C. The Republic of Korea (19-24 January 2008) 70. The Special Rapporteur paid an official visit to the Republic of Korea from 19 to 24 January 2008. The purpose of his visit was to assess the impact of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s human rights situation on the Republic of Korea. 71. Importantly, he interviewed a number of nationals of the former country who had sought refuge in the latter and learned first hand about their life stories. They ranged from new arrivals, housed in the Hanawon reception centre, to others who had settled for a period of time in the Republic of Korea. 72. His visit was at a time when a transition was taking place with the election of a new President in the country. Various policy changes, including those concerning the relations between the two countries, were pending, and the Special Rapporteur was cognizant of a number of key developments and possible trends. Importantly, the six-party talks concerning the denuclearization of the nuclear build-up in the country in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea were still taking place. While there was progress in disabling the core nuclear facilities of Yongbyong in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea under various agreements and targets reached between the parties, other elements awaited progress. This would have impact on the overall atmosphere and sense of security on the Korean peninsula with possible traction for the humanitarian space under the umbrella of the six-party talks. 73. The two countries adopted the Declaration on the Advancement of South-North Korean Relations, Peace and Prosperity on 4 October 2007, under which they pledged to cooperate on a variety of issues, including the transformation of inter-Korean relations into ties of mutual trust and respect, the mitigation of tensions and the guarantee of peace on the Korean peninsula and