[EDITORIAL] N.K. human rights

The international community, once again, has condemned the deplorable state of human rights abuses in North Korea.

The U.N. General Assembly`s human rights committee adopted a resolution condemning North Korea for its "systemic, widespread, and grave violations" of human rights. The non-binding resolution was co-sponsored by 53 states, including South Korea. The resolution passed by 96 votes. Sixty five abstained and 19 voted against the resolution.

The extensive rights violations in North Korea cited by the human rights committee are so horrific that one wants to shout, "Enough." The egregious violations against human rights include "torture and other cruel, in human or degrading treatment or punishment, inhuman conditions of detention, public executions, extrajudicial and arbitrary detention, the absence of due process and the rule of law" -- enough to make North Korea a hellish state on earth.



As usual, Pyongyang dismissed the findings. North Korea`s deputy U.N. representative Pak Tok-hun saying that Pyongyang "categorically rejects the resolution." He accused the United States of leading a conspiracy to "deny and obliterate" North Korea.

While this year`s resolution against human rights abuses in North Korea is similar to those passed in previous years, the latest resolution has a number of newly added articles. The U.N. member states are urged to comply with their obligations under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the status of refugees. The latest resolution also includes an article on the violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of children.

The resolution is likely to be passed by the U.N. General Assembly plenary session next month. The United Nations has passed a resolution condemning North Korean human rights abuses every year since 2005. However, the North Korean government has chosen to ignore them.

Further pressure on North Korea to improve its human rights will come when the U.N. Human Rights Council reviews North Korea`s human rights situation under a Universal Periodic Review session early next month. The review process provides each state an opportunity to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations. What will North Korea be able to tell the Human Rights Council?