A U.N. human rights expert on Wednesday called on nations involved in any negotiations on North Korea's denuclearization to address the country's human rights record at the same time.

"A denuclearization deal will remain fragile if it sidelines the rights and needs of the DPRK population," Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea, said, referring to the country by its formal name -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"Peace and security cannot be achieved only in the form of intergovernmental agreements but also, and perhaps more importantly, in the shape of domestic policies that guarantee the full enjoyment of human rights without discrimination," he said in a statement.

Ojea Quintana made the call ahead of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae In on Friday and with U.S. President Donald Trump by early June.

（Tomas Ojea Quintana）

"In line with what the U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has been advocating, I call upon all concerned governments to uphold human rights as a conflict prevention and peacebuilding mechanism," he said.

"The DPRK has proven to be a tough negotiator, and not even mentioning human rights at this very first stage of negotiations would be a misstep and a lost opportunity," he said.

Ojea Quintana called for addressing such issues as the reunion of families separated during the 1950-1953 Korean War and releasing foreigners who were arbitrarily detained.

In a recent report presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council, he urged North Korea to free three Americans and six South Koreans in custody.

Ojea Quintana also prodded Pyongyang in the report to promptly investigate "unresolved cases of abductions" involving citizens of Japan, South Korea and other states.

North Korea has said the abduction issue involving Japanese had been settled, a position Japan does not accept. The issue has prevented the two governments from normalizing diplomatic relations.