UN Human Rights Body: "No Matter How You Put It, North Korea's Human Rights Situation Is Dire"

"The Vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Not Detected in North Korea"

James Heenan, the newly appointed head of the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul, is giving an interview at the UN Human Rights Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The United Nations human rights agency expressed concern over the human rights situation in North Korea on the occasion of World Human Rights Day (December 10), according to a report by the Voice of America (VOA) on the 10th.

The Seoul UN Human Rights Office, on behalf of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), sent an official statement to the broadcast, pointing out that "although there have been numerous achievements since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was announced, progress has been uneven," and "in some areas like North Korea, progress seems to have been very limited."

It continued, "No matter how you put it, the human rights situation in North Korea is poor," expressing concern that "the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not perceived in North Korea." It also cited a statement released by Volker T?rk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, on this year's World Human Rights Day, emphasizing that all countries must comply with their obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In this regard, the UN Human Rights Office urged, "The World Human Rights Day is an opportunity to improve the human rights situation in North Korea and to move closer to the international values and agreements represented by this declaration," adding, "As a UN member state, North Korea has an obligation to follow this."

The UN has designated December 10, the day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, as World Human Rights Day to emphasize the importance of protecting human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, is an international universal norm that guarantees the most fundamental human rights.

Earlier, on the 7th, High Commissioner T?rk gave significance to the declaration in a statement released via video, saying, "(The Universal Declaration of Human Rights) specifies the universal rights of humanity and recognizes the equal value of all people."