UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council will meet publicly to discuss human rights abuses in North Korea next week, a move requested by the United States, Albania and Japan that is likely to anger Pyongyang and face opposition from China and Russia.
It will be the first formal public meeting of the 15-member council on the issue since 2017.
North Korea has repeatedly rejected accusations of abuses and blames sanctions for a dire humanitarian situation. Since 2006 it has been under UN sanctions over its ballistic missiles and nuclear programs, but there are aid exemptions.
“It is long overdue,” said US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, reading a joint statement by the United States, Albania, Japan and South Korea.
“We know the government’s human rights abuses and violations facilitate the advancement of its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs,” she said.
The council would meet on Aug 17 and be briefed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK, Elizabeth Salmón, said Thomas-Greenfield.
China and Russia object to the issue being raised in the council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security. They say rights issues should be confined to other bodies such as the UN Human Rights Council or General Assembly.
China and Russia could call a procedural vote next week, but a senior US official said they were confident they have the minimum nine votes needed hold the meeting. Vetoes do not apply on procedural issues.