South Korea's new President Lee Myung-bak has done more for North Korean human rights in the past week than his predecessor did in his entire five-year term. The question now is whether Mr. Lee can withstand the North's intimidation tactics and stick to his guns.

On Thursday, South Korea cast a vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the special rapporteur monitoring rights in North Korea. Under former President Roh Moo-hyun, Seoul had abstained from almost all such votes for fear of angering...