UN ADOPTS RESOLUTION ON N. KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS

[Anchor Lead]

A United Nations committee adopted a resolution calling for improved human rights conditions in North Korea. Kim Song, the North Korean ambassador to the UN, strongly condemned the resolution, calling it a result of political and military confrontation.

[Pkg]

The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, which oversees humanitarian issues, passed the resolution by unanimous consensus without a vote. The latest one is largely similar to those adopted in previous years. But it took note of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact. While expressing concerns that the human rights situation in North Korea could potentially be exacerbated by the pandemic, the resolution urged the regime to allow back in activists from international humanitarian organizations. As in previous years, the resolution harshly denounced serious human rights violations in the North, such practices of sexual assaults and torture as well as the operation of political prisoner camps. It asked the UN Security Council to consider referring the situation to the International Criminal Court while holding those involved accountable. Since 2014, the UN resolutions have called for such tough actions against North Korea's human rights violations. Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the UN, was quick to criticize the move, calling it a result of political and military schemes against the regime. He said he adamantly opposes the resolution, as it has nothing to do with protection of human rights.

[Soundbite] KIM SONG(NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UN)

The UN has adopted a resolution on North Korean human rights violations for 16 straight years since 2005. This year's resolution will be submitted to the General Assembly plenary session next month. The latest resolution did not mention in detail the South Korean government fisheries official who was shot to death by North Korean soldiers in September in the West Sea. But it accepted opinions by the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea who denounced the murder and urged Pyongyang to compensate the bereaved family. For the second consecutive year, South Korea did not co-sponsor the resolution, which was endorsed by some 40 other countries this year. But Seoul agreed to its passage by unanimous consent.