North Korea reacted to the draft resolution on human rights by the European Union at the United Nations and advised this bloc to focus on its own affairs. This reaction came in response to ongoing criticisms from the UN and human rights activists regarding human rights violations in the country.
North Korea's Reaction
The North Korean representation at the UN, in a statement released by the Korean Central News Agency, described the EU's action as "a ridiculous show" and "political provocation." The statement clearly stated that the mentioned resolution "blatantly distorts North Korea's human rights policy" and claimed that human rights "are not the exclusive property of the West."
Furthermore, the North Korean representation referred to protests in Europe, stating: "The streets are filled with demonstrators demanding basic rights such as the right to exist." This remark indicates that North Korea is trying to use domestic protests as a reason to delegitimize foreign criticisms.
UN General Assembly
Since 2005, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution each year condemning human rights violations in North Korea. According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, Seoul has decided to participate as a co-sponsor of this resolution proposed by the European Union. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Seoul has joined this resolution, following a hiatus from 2019 to 2021 during the liberal government of Moon Jae-in.
The draft resolution is expected to be approved at the third committee meeting of the UN General Assembly later this month and then submitted for final approval to the General Assembly. This process reflects the continued international pressure on North Korea due to human rights violations in the country.
Overall, tensions between North Korea and the international community, especially the European Union, are escalating, and these disputes could impact diplomatic approaches and international communications.
