North Korea has condemned the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s adoption of a resolution on human rights in North Korea, calling it a violation of sovereignty and a political offensive.
In a statement released on Thursday through the Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry declared that the human rights resolution fabricated by hostile forces is a document that distorts and falsifies the reality of the human rights situation. The spokesperson characterized it as a serious political provocation against the national dignity and sovereignty. They went on to criticize the entire UN human rights mechanism, arguing that the North Korea-focused human rights resolutions, which have persisted for over 20 years, are products of politicization, selectivity, and double standards.
North Korea specifically contended that selective human rights theories targeting individual countries contradict the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in internal affairs as outlined in the UN Charter. They criticized the international community’s demands for improvements in human rights situations.
The spokesperson emphasized their regime’s defensive stance, stating that defending the national rights is equivalent to defending human rights. It will continue to fulfill the responsibilities to ensure the peace and welfare of the people.
North Korea also issued a warning to countries that supported this resolution, declaring that malicious actions will be held to account. Some interpret this as a message directed at South Korea, which initially hesitated but ultimately decided to co-sponsor the human rights resolution.
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, Switzerland. This marks the 24th consecutive year the resolution has been adopted since 2003.
Fifty countries co-sponsored this North Korean human rights resolution. The South Korean government, after careful consideration, decided to participate at the last minute.
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 and emphasized the necessity for continued monitoring and accountability.
An official from South Korea’s Ministry of Unification noted that the Foreign Ministry’s recent statement showed a somewhat heightened level of criticism compared to previous responses. Notably, North Korea had not issued a significant reaction when the UN General Assembly adopted a North Korean human rights resolution last November.