Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/74/166 nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles over the welfare of its people, and emphasizing the necessity for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to respect and ensure the welfare and inherent dignity of the people in the country, as referred to by the Security Council in its resolutions 2321 (2016) of 30 November 2016, 2371 (2017) of 5 August 2017, 2375 (2017) of 11 September 2017 and 2397 (2017) of 22 December 2017, Taking note of the strategic framework for cooperation between the United Nations and the Government of the Democratic People ’s Republic of Korea for the period 2017–2021 and the Government’s commitment in accordance with the principles, goals and targets of the Sustainable Development Goals 12 and in line with its commitments to international agreements and conventions, Noting with grave concern the urgency and importance of the issue of international abductions and of the immediate return of all abductees, the long years of suffering experienced by abductees and their families, and the lack of positive action by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, notably since the investigations on all the Japanese nationals commenced on the basis of the government-level consultations held between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Japan in May 2014, and calling upon the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to address all allegations of enforced disappearances, provide accurate information to the families of the victims on the fates and whereabouts of their missing relatives and resolve all issues related to all abductees at the earliest possible date, in particular the return of abductees of Japan and the Republic of Korea, Noting the urgency and importance of the issue of separated families, including affected Koreans worldwide, in this regard welcoming the resumption of the reunions of separated families across the border in August 2018 and the commitments made on this issue at the inter-Korean summit held on 19 September 2018 to strengthen humanitarian cooperation to fundamentally resolve the issue of separated families, and highlighting the importance of allowing permanent regular reunions and contact between separated families, including through meetings at an easily accessible location and regular facility, regular written correspondence, video reunions, and the exchange of video messages, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, Welcoming and further encouraging the efforts of Member States to raise international awareness about the human rights situation in the Democratic People ’s Republic of Korea, and noting that human rights, including gender equality, are intrinsically linked to peace and security, Welcoming the diplomatic efforts, and noting the importance of dialogue and engagements, including inter-Korean dialogue, to seek improvement of the human rights and humanitarian situation in the country, Underlining the efforts of the Secretary-General to contribute to improving inter-Korean relations and promoting reconciliation and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the well-being of the Korean people, 1. Condemns the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity according to the commission of inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People ’s Republic of Korea, established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 22/13 of 21 March 2013, 13 and those identified by the group of independent experts on accountability for __________________ 12 13 4/11 See resolution 70/1. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 53 19-22298