[USFK Forums] EU must act against U.S. on rights - N. Korea [Reuters]

[C. Y. Lee]

[Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Thursday, December 15, 2005]
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EU must act against U.S. on rights - North Korea

Wed Dec 14, 2005 9:32 PM GMT
By Madeline Chambers

LONDON (Reuters) - North Korea accused the European Union on Wednesday of being soft on the United States over its human rights record and urged the bloc to put forward a U.N. resolution condemning U.S. abuses.

The reclusive Communist state has itself been scolded by the United Nations and human rights groups describe North Korea as one of the world's worst abusers.

Last month a committee of the U.N. General Assembly expressed "serious concern" in a resolution, put forward by the European Union, over reports of torture, public executions and other North Korean human rights violations.

"We cannot accept the resolution because it is an expression of selectivity and double standards on the part of the EU and especially the U.S.," North Korea's ambassador to Britain, Ri Yong Ho, told Reuters in an interview.

He said the United States got away with abuses without scrutiny from the international community, especially Brussels.

"The first thing we would like to see fully discussed is the use of white phosphorous bombs by the U.S. against Iraqi civilians," he said in his residence in a west London suburb.

"The EU position on that is not strong enough."

He said the United States had escaped criticism of alleged secret CIA camps in other countries, allegations of enhanced interrogation techniques and prisoner abuse in Guantanamo Bay and Iraq's Abu Ghraib.

"Put these together and the EU should be in a position to take similar action to that they are taking against us, like sponsoring a resolution in an international forum," said Ri.

But he acknowledged his plea may fall on deaf ears.

"Whether it is realistic or not, it is important because we want the EU to show a genuine interest in human rights."

The U.N. resolution also urged North Korea to give aid groups access to those in need but Ri said Pyongyang's fear of western spies prevented it from admitting humanitarian groups or rights inspectors.

North Korea has been on the defensive since U.S. President George W. Bush branded it part of an "axis of evil" alongside Iran and pre-war Iraq.

"When it comes to inspections and opening up the country, we need to feel safe. Until then it will be difficult."

He reiterated that North Korea would not return to six-party nuclear talks while the U.S. continues a clampdown on its financial assets.

Washington accuses North Korea of funding its atomic programme partly through money obtained from counterfeiting, money laundering and drugs trading.

Ri also denied that North Korea would soon invite U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei. Pyongyang has barred IAEA inspections since 2002 after announcing plans to restart a nuclear reactor and to develop a nuclear arms programme.

Ties with the United States have long been icy.

North Korea says the U.S. envoy to South Korea, who called Pyongyang "a criminal regime", should be recalled.

"(Alexander) Vershbow is the most *****y and malignant ambassador in history," added the commentary in the state-run Minju Joson newspaper on Wednesday.