UN: "North Korea's Prioritization of Military Spending Deepens Human Rights Deterioration"

"Limits to Accountability and Reform"

The United Nations human rights agency has pointed out that North Korea's prioritization of military spending continues to worsen the country's human rights situation.

Volker Turk United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated in its report on the human rights situation in North Korea, submitted to the UN Secretary-General on August 6 (local time), that "the policy of isolation and prioritizing military expenditure has exacerbated the already difficult socioeconomic conditions."

OHCHR noted, "The North Korean government continues to severely suppress fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and freedom of movement." The agency added, "Although North Korea is cooperating with UN human rights agencies through the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), there has been no concrete progress in accountability or systematic reforms."

The report claims that North Korean authorities not only control and monitor residents and conduct ideological education through forced labor, which is prohibited under international law, but also expose them to the risk of sexual violence and gender-based violence.

OHCHR cited cases of torture, execution, and other human rights violations against residents forcibly repatriated to North Korea, demanding that the authorities "respect the freedom of movement both domestically and internationally and immediately stop treating residents who have left the country as criminals." The agency also noted, "Although North Korea has made efforts to resume relations with some countries, it remains largely isolated from the international community, including by refusing humanitarian aid." OHCHR emphasized that progress in various fields, including human rights, is only possible if United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations are allowed to operate inside North Korea.

This report covers the human rights situation in North Korea and the status of cooperation with UN human rights agencies from June of last year to May of this year. OHCHR stated that it requested feedback on the draft report from the North Korean mission in Geneva in July, but did not receive a response.