North Korea has intensified its criticism of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s resolution on North Korean human rights, denouncing it as a violation of sovereignty and a politically motivated attack.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement through the Korean Central News Agency, declaring that the human rights resolution fabricated by hostile forces is a document that distorts the human rights situation. It is a grave political provocation against the nation’s dignity and sovereignty. The spokesperson further argued that the human rights resolutions against North Korea, which have persisted for over two decades, are products of politicization, selectivity, and double standards, criticizing the entire UN human rights mechanism.
North Korea specifically asserted that selective human rights theories targeting individual countries contradict the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs outlined in the UN Charter, directly challenging the international community’s approach to North Korean human rights.
Moreover, referencing the situation in the Middle East, North Korea claimed that mass killings and violations of sovereignty lead to human rights abuses, reiterating their double standards narrative aimed at Western nations. The spokesperson emphasized that defending national sovereignty is equivalent to protecting human rights, underscoring their regime’s defensive stance.
North Korea warned the countries that supported this resolution that their malicious actions will be reckoned with, while also stating that it will continue to fulfill our responsibilities to ensure the peace and welfare of the people.
Previously, on Monday, the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution condemning North Korea’s systematic human rights violations during its 61st session in Geneva. This marks the 24th consecutive year since 2003 that such a resolution has been passed.
This time, 50 countries co-sponsored the North Korean human rights resolution, with the South Korean government participating after careful consideration.
The resolution addressed issues such as forced labor, political prison camps, abductions, and separated families. It also reaffirmed the need to extend the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on North Korean human rights, continue monitoring efforts, and emphasized the necessity of accountability.