THE UN's human rights committee has unanimously condemned the "systematic, widespread and grave" human rights abuses in North Korea, citing its reported use of torture, the death penalty for political and religious reasons and numerous political prison camps.
A resolution that calls on North Korea to immediately put an end to all human rights abuses in the country was adopted by consensus by the committee, which includes all 193 UN member states. It now goes to the General Assembly for final approval next month, which is virtually certain.
North Korean diplomat Kim Song vehemently rejected the resolution, which was sponsored by the EU and Japan, saying it was "politically motivated" and promoted by the US and its followers "in their attempt to achieve their goals of undermining our system".
Lithuania's deputy UN ambassador Rita Kazragiene said North Korea's positive steps in the past year, including signing the convention on the rights of people with disabilities, "do not go nearly far enough".
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