[USFK Forums] UN raps N Korea's rights record [BBC]

[C. Y. Lee]

[Uploaded by C. Y. Lee, Friday, November 18, 2005] Here is a BBC News report on N. Korea's human rights as follows:
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Last Updated: Thursday, 17 November 2005, 19:46 GMT

UN raps N Korea's rights record

North Korea has been relying on foreign food aid for years
A UN General Assembly committee has passed a resolution expressing serious concern about alleged human rights violations in North Korea.
The assembly's social and humanitarian committee backed the EU-sponsored document in a 84-22 vote, with 62 abstentions - among them South Korea.

Citing reports of "widespread and grave" abuses, it urged Pyongyang to "fully respect all human rights".

North Korea denounced the resolution, the AFP news agency reported.

'Torture'

The document voiced "deep concern at the precarious humanitarian situation" in North Korea, "particularly the prevalence of infant malnutrition".

It also cited "torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, public executions, extrajudicial and arbitrary detention, the absence of due process and the rule of law, the imposition of the death penalty for political reasons, the existence of a large number of prison camps and the extensive use of force labour" in the Communist hermit-state.

South Korea declined to support the resolution.

Its representative Shin Kak-soo said Seoul "shares the serious concerns of the international community regarding the human rights situation" in North Korea.

"At the same time, my government has other crucial objectives in our policy towards the DPRK (North Korea) which in our view are vital for peace and security in the Korean peninsular," Shin Kak-soo said.

Representatives from all 191 UN member-states have a seat on the panel.