North Korea rejected UN monitor’s report
United Nations: North Korea’s UN delegation has said that it was proud of Pyongyang’s social system and human rights record and rejected as baseless a U.N. monitor’s report that described appalling human rights abuses in the reclusive country.
North Korean delegate Kim Song read a statement to the committee, which includes all 193 U.N. member states, that said: “My delegation totally and categorically rejects the … groundless allegations.”
“The report of the special rapporteur is a product of the hostile policies of the United States and European Union against the DPRK (North Korea) and is a typical example of politicization, double standards and selectivity on the issue of human rights,” Kim said.
Darusman complained that North Korea had refused to cooperate with him during his assessment of the human rights situation in the impoverished nation. He also said there had been “no improvement in the dire situation of human rights” in North Korea since his last report in March.
Pyongyang’s delegate said North Korea had previously cooperated with U.N. and European Union human rights bodies but stopped doing so in 2006 after the EU began sponsoring annual General Assembly resolutions condemning Pyongyang for its rights record.
U.S., Japanese, EU and other delegations gave statements criticizing Pyongyang’s rights record. Darusman reiterated his concerns about North Korean prison camps, which he told the committee held between 150,000 and 200,000 prisoners.
China and other countries complained about the practice of adopting General Assembly resolutions that single out countries for their records on human rights.
The North Korean envoy said Darusman’s allegations were based on “distortions and falsity.”
“We neither recognize nor accept the mandate of the special rapporteur appointed by a resolution against the DPRK,” Kim said. “This is our principled position and it will not change in the future.”
“It is a big mistake if certain countries expect any change from DPRK through political pressure,” he added. “We remain consistent in our peaceful position to solve all problems through negotiation and dialogue.”
