Seoul backs UN vote condemning North
Published: 20 Nov. 2009, 22:01
South Korea was among dozens of nations that voted in favor of a United Nations resolution that condemned North Korea for violations of human rights.
The UN yesterday adopted a resolution that charged the North with the “systematic, widespread and grave violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.” The UN General Assembly Committee expressed “very serious concern” over “inhuman” abuses in North Korea and urged the North to fully respect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The non-binding resolution, co-sponsored by 53 nations including South Korea, was adopted by 96 to 19 votes, with 65 abstentions. The motion could be presented later before the full assembly of 192 member states.
The resolution offered a list of rights violations, including “torture and other cruel, inhuman 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.”
The motion also pointed to capital punishment for political reasons and to the large number of prison camps.
The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said South Korea co-sponsored and voted for the resolution, based on the government’s fundamental stance that human rights are “universal values that must be handled separately from other matters.”
The UN has drafted a resolution on the North Korean human rights situation every year since 2005. South Korea abstained from voting in 2005 but cast a vote in favor in 2006, the year when North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. The South abstained again in 2007 and then voted in favor of the resolution the following year.
North Korea immediately rejected the UN resolution. Pak Tok-hun, the North’s deputy ambassador to the UN missions, said the motion was “document of political conspiracy by hostile forces led by the United States” and added it was an attempt to “isolate and suffocate” his country.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
The UN yesterday adopted a resolution that charged the North with the “systematic, widespread and grave violations of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.” The UN General Assembly Committee expressed “very serious concern” over “inhuman” abuses in North Korea and urged the North to fully respect all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The non-binding resolution, co-sponsored by 53 nations including South Korea, was adopted by 96 to 19 votes, with 65 abstentions. The motion could be presented later before the full assembly of 192 member states.
The resolution offered a list of rights violations, including “torture and other cruel, inhuman 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.”
The motion also pointed to capital punishment for political reasons and to the large number of prison camps.
The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said South Korea co-sponsored and voted for the resolution, based on the government’s fundamental stance that human rights are “universal values that must be handled separately from other matters.”
The UN has drafted a resolution on the North Korean human rights situation every year since 2005. South Korea abstained from voting in 2005 but cast a vote in favor in 2006, the year when North Korea conducted its first nuclear test. The South abstained again in 2007 and then voted in favor of the resolution the following year.
North Korea immediately rejected the UN resolution. Pak Tok-hun, the North’s deputy ambassador to the UN missions, said the motion was “document of political conspiracy by hostile forces led by the United States” and added it was an attempt to “isolate and suffocate” his country.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)