UN sets up commission of inquiry into rights abuses by North Korea
Latest blast of rhetoric prompted by US use of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers and submarines in joint drills with S Korea
The UN yesterday set up a commission of inquiry into human-rights violations in North Korea, saying some "may amount to crimes against humanity".
The 47-member Geneva forum unanimously adopted a resolution brought by the European Union and Japan, and backed by the United States, condemning alleged torture, food deprivation and labour camps for political prisoners.
It launched a three-member investigation for a year and called on Pyongyang to co-operate with the team, which will include Marzuki Darusman, its special rapporteur on North Korea who last month reported rapes, torture and executions in the country.
"This long-awaited inquiry will help expose decades of abuse by the North Korean government," Julie de Rivero, advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
This long-awaited inquiry will help expose decades of abuse by the North Korean government
At the debate, North Korean Ambassador So Se-pyong rejected the resolution as "an instrument that serves the political purposes of the hostile forces in their attempt to discredit the image of [North Korea]".
"As we stated time and again, those human-rights abuses mentioned in the resolution do not exist in our country," So said, warning that the sponsors should be held accountable "for all serious consequences".