UN General Assembly committee passes N. Korean human rights resolution

유엔총회 12년 연속 북한 인권결의안 채택 UN member states issued their strongest-ever condemnation of the widespread human rights violations in North Korea. Kwon Soa fills us in on the resolution,... which singles out the regime's leadership for direct blame Condemning North Korea's "systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights",... the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly has approved a resolution that calls for referring North Korea's dismal human rights situation to the International Criminal Court. The resolution -- approved for the first time by consensus, not a vote -- is expected to be formally adopted by the General Assembly at a meeting next month. This marks the 12th straight year for the assembly to adopt such resolution, and the third year that it calls on the UN Security Council to pass the situation on to the ICC. North Korea has "resolutely and categorically" rejected the measure,... saying it's aimed at defaming and eliminating the country. "The resolution has nothing to do with the promotion and protection of genuine human rights as it is the product of the plot and the conspiracy proceeding from political purpose of the United States." This year's resolution also includes mention of North Korea's system of forced overseas labor. More than 50-thousand North Korean workers are estimated to be working in harsh conditions abroad... and contributing to Pyongyang's ability to finance its weapons development programs. The new resolution also holds the North Korean leadership itself accountable for the human rights abuses. "South Korea's foreign ministry has welcomed the approval,... and urged Pyongyang to take concrete and substantial measures to improve its human rights situation in line with the UN's recommendations." In accordance with these developments,... the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on North Korea's human rights, Tomas Ojea Quintana, met with South Korean officials Wednesday, including Seoul's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se. "I think your visit is very timely, in the sense that early this morning, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on North Korean human rights, and that is the strongest ever resolution on North Korean human rights." During his first trip to South Korea in his current capacity, Quintana also plans to speak with defectors and members of civic organizations working on the human rights issue. Kwon Soa, Arirang News. Visit ‘Arirang News’ Official Pages Facebook(NEWS):   / newsarirang   Homepage: http://www.arirang.com Facebook:   / arirangtv   Twitter:   / arirangworld   Instagram:   / arirangworld