The U.N. Human Rights Council recently unanimously adopted a resolution on establishing a panel to investigate human rights abuse in North Korea.

It is important for the international community to seize this momentum and step up pressure on the reclusive country to improve its human rights conditions, which would pave the way for the swift resolution of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese.

The resolution was jointly submitted by Japan and the European Union, and denounced North Korea’s “systematic, widespread and grave violation of human rights.” It stipulated the establishment of an inquiry panel of three experts to investigate human rights abuse including the use of torture and labor camps, as well as “enforced disappearances, including in the form of abductions of nationals of other states.”

The United Nations has appointed a special rapporteur tasked with investigating North Korea’s human rights conditions every year, but establishing the panel will enable a more exhaustive investigation.

The Japanese government should unreservedly support the panel. It must unveil the full picture of the abductions ― a crime committed by a state ― and bring all the Japanese victims home.

The United Nations has adopted resolutions condemning North Korea’s human rights situation annually in recent years. Votes cast against the resolutions in support of North Korea have decreased over the years, while votes in favor have increased. Since last year, these resolutions have been adopted unanimously.

The U.N. Security Council adopted a unanimous resolution on tougher sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile development programs. Pyongyang has continuously thumbed its nose at international condemnation of the programs. Even China has become more willing to implement sanctions on North Korea.

The North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un must take this mounting international pressure to heart.

North Korea likely will keep refusing to cooperate with U.N. investigations, and will not open its doors to inquiry panel members.

However, the panel can collect detailed evidence from victims, defectors, their relatives, governments and agencies outside North Korea. The panel is expected to compile a report on the state of Pyongyang’s human rights violations and specific countermeasures. The report will be issued as an official U.N. document a year from now.

The panel report could firmly pursue the North Korean leadership’s responsibility for crimes against humanity. The international community must keep squeezing North Korea until it improves its human rights record.

The Human Rights Council resolution reflects the Japanese government’s strenuous efforts on the abduction issue. We praise the government for its work.

In his policy speech earlier this year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his mission will not end until all abducted Japanese stand again on their native soil. Family members of the abductees have grown old, so there is no time to waste. We ask the prime minister to produce tangible results.

The government should develop a strategic and aggressive diplomatic policy toward North Korea, including the option of resuming intergovernmental talks.

Without a comprehensive solution to the abduction, nuclear and missile problems, it will be impossible to normalise relations with North Korea. It is essential for the government to maintain this stance when dealing with Pyongyang.

(The Yomiuri Shimbun)

(Asian News Network)