South Korea said Wednesday that the adoption of a U.N. resolution on North Korea's dismal human rights conditions indicates the international community's concerns about the situation in the North.

A U.N. General Assembly committee on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for the referral of North Korea's human rights violations to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a 111-19 vote. Fifty-five countries abstained.

The move came after the U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) published a report in February that accused Pyongyang of "systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights." The COI recommended that the Security Council refer Pyongyang's "crimes against humanity" to the ICC.

Seoul's foreign ministry said that the passage of the resolution reflects how seriously the international community regards North Korea's human rights abuses.

"The adoption of the resolution reflects the international community's concerns and willingness that the recommendations by the COI should be thoroughly implemented to improve the dismal situation in North Korea," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The resolution, drafted by the European Union and co-sponsored by a record 60 nations, is expected to put to vote at the plenary session of the General Assembly early next month.

North Korea has rejected criticism of its human rights situation, calling it a U.S.-led attempt to topple its regime. In September, the North released its own human rights report, claiming the country has the world's most advantageous human rights system and policies. (Yonhap)