At UN, North Korea tells European Union to mind its business over human rights resolution
Pyongyang rejects EU proposal
North Korea’s UN mission denounced the European Union’s draft resolution on the country’s human rights situation in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. It described the move as a political provocation.
The mission said the draft misrepresented North Korea’s human rights policy and argued that human rights are not controlled by Western countries. It also pointed to protests in Europe and cited demands for basic rights.
Mission attacks criticism
The mission urged the European Union to address its own affairs instead of raising what it called nonexistent human rights concerns. Its comments came as the bloc prepared a draft resolution concerning North Korea.
The United Nations and human rights advocates have for years accused Pyongyang of rights violations. The General Assembly has passed a resolution condemning those violations every year since 2005.
South Korea joins sponsorship
South Korea has decided to co-sponsor the EU-proposed resolution, according to Yonhap News Agency. This will be Seoul’s fifth consecutive year backing it, after a pause from 2019 through 2021 during the liberal Moon Jae-in government.
The draft is expected to be adopted by the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee later this month. It would then go to the full General Assembly for final approval.
Key points
- North Korea’s UN mission called the EU draft politically motivated and disputed its account of human rights.
- The General Assembly has condemned North Korea’s human rights violations annually since 2005.
- South Korea will co-sponsor the draft for the fifth consecutive year.
- The draft is expected to go before a UN committee later this month.