UN adopts resolution blasting N.Korea`s human rights abuses

The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning North Korea for human rights violations via consensus.

The resolution had been first adopted last month by an assembly committee through a consensus by U.N. member countries. Thursday, however, marked the first time for a U.N. resolution on the North`s human rights abuses to pass both the committee and the General Assembly without a vote.

A consensus is a form of decision making without holding a vote, and differs from unanimity in that it allows individual member states to not take part in a consensus.

The resolution also urged the North`s neighboring countries not to forcefully repatriate escapees from the impoverished communist state. It added statements that the human rights situation in the Stalinist country has worsened under leader Kim Jong Un, and that the North’s concentration camps for political prisoners are guilty of serious human rights violations.

Moreover, the resolution expressed hope that the two Koreas will resume reunions of separated families from both sides.

The world body also expressed concern over the North`s use of torture, illegal and arbitrary confinement, an implicative system, restriction of freedom of ideas, expression‍ and transportation, and human rights abuses against women and children.

Pyongyang`s representative to the U.N. was quick to reject the resolution, calling it “a document of a political plot” and claiming that the resolution created confrontation and blocked potential dialogue and cooperation.

witness@donga.com