UN Adopts North Korea Human Rights Resolution Condemning Violations for 20 Consecutive Years

Highlighting North Korea's Human Rights Situation and Urging Improvement Measures

The North Korean Human Rights Resolution, condemning North Korea's systematic and widespread human rights violations, was adopted for the 20th consecutive year at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

On the 17th (local time), the UN General Assembly held a plenary session at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, and adopted the North Korean Human Rights Resolution by consensus without a vote.

The resolution stated, "North Korea announced in January 2024 that it will no longer pursue unification with the Republic of Korea," and expressed concern about "the negative impact this policy direction may have on human rights issues, including the separated families problem."

The resolution also pointed out that North Korea severely restricts freedom of thought and conscience through the Reactionary Thought and Culture Rejection Law, Youth Education Guarantee Law, and Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Law. It urged "the abolition or reform of all such practices and laws."

Additionally, the resolution included a demand to the President of the UN General Assembly to hold a high-level meeting to hear testimonies from civil society representatives and various experts regarding North Korea's human rights abuses and mistreatment.

The UN General Assembly has adopted the North Korean Human Rights Resolution for 20 consecutive years since 2005. Although UN General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding under international law, they carry a political and moral obligation to be respected as they represent the unified demands of the international community.