GENEVA — South Korea expressed its approval on Thursday for the United Nations Human Rights Council's (UNHRC) latest action against North Korea, marking the 22nd consecutive year of resolutions denouncing the regime's human rights violations. The UNHRC, during its 55th regular session in Geneva, unanimously adopted a resolution that criticized North Korea for its "widespread and systematic human rights violations." Additionally, the resolution urges North Korea to enhance its human rights record and calls on other countries to adhere to the principle of nonrefoulement.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this year is particularly significant as it commemorates the 10th anniversary of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry's report on human rights in North Korea. The resolution reflects the international community's deep concerns over North Korea's human rights situation, incorporating updates that address the South Korean government's specific worries. These include calls for Pyongyang to abolish or amend laws restricting freedom of thought, religion, and expression. The UNHRC has been consistently adopting resolutions against North Korea's human rights abuses annually since 2003.