I am starting to like Dennis Halpin. :) See his bio here.

The influential U.S. congressional advisor Dennis Halpin, a Korea expert, said there was a connection between Seoul's sunshine policy vis-Ã*-vis Pyongyang and its neglect of the alliance with Washington. Halpin went on to compare Korea's appeasement of the North to the people of Troy's acceptance of the Trojan Horse laden with enemy soldiers.

At a seminar sponsored by the Institute for Corean American Studies (ICAS), Halpin expressed impatience with South Korea for brushing off the U.S. and other allies in efforts to make up with North Korea.

As the chief culprit, the researcher fingered the Korean Teachers' Union, saying the younger generation currently intent on toppling a statue of U.S. general Douglas MacArthur learned history in the classrooms of radical union members. Halpin lambasted South Korea for whistling the tune of the Chinese in the last round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program. He said it was hypocritical for Seoul to hope for a South Korean as UN secretary-general when it stood by as North Korea committed egregious human rights abuses.

Seems to be a well credentialed fellow! I will read some of his work, before venturing an opinion.
Lots of our leaders seem quick to jump on "Human Rights" issues with both feet. It is a great way to get minority and bleeding heart votes. It sits well with moral and Christian values. Let me say I'm FOR human rights, but not as a chip to be openly used in critical negotiations. Negotiate, make a trade deal, and later on ,after they get used to our trade goods or money, then work on human rights.
Realistically, it is NOT a way to positively impress or win over support from non-Christian countries that have never been in tune with OUR interpretation of morality or religious ideas. I recently read that Condoleesa Rice is going to ease up on talking about human rights in her visits to the Mid East.
It's about time! Example: Saudi's are offended by just having to deal with a female, and for her to harp on human rights issues, is a LOT for them to swallow.
Politics and Diplomacy are strange bedfellows.