A resolution condemning North Korea’s widespread and systematic human rights violations was adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly for the 21st consecutive year.
At the 80th UN General Assembly session held at the UN Headquarters in New York, U.S., on December 18, the North Korea human rights resolution was adopted by consensus (agreement among member states) without a vote.
The resolution strongly condemned North Korea, stating that it prioritizes military expenditures and nuclear and missile development over the welfare of its people, and that systematic, widespread, and grave human rights violations continue to this day. It also pointed out that most of the 19 recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (COI) in 2014 have not been implemented.
Additionally, it comprehensively included demands to address worsening humanitarian conditions in areas like food, health, and sanitation, as well as calls for resuming access for international organizations, supporting civil society, improving humanitarian access, and resolving issues of abductions and enforced disappearances.
It also emphasized the importance of implementing recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and the need to strengthen cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms.
This resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on November 19, with 61 countries, including South Korea, participating as co-sponsors. South Korea participated as a co-sponsor from 2008 to 2018 but abstained from 2019 to 2022 during the Moon Jae-in administration, considering the potential impact on inter-Korean relations. It resumed its role as a co-sponsor in 2023, the year the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office.
The Third Committee has adopted this resolution every year for 20 consecutive years since 2005. Since 2016, it has been adopted by consensus without a separate vote.