Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/73/180 of the recommendations contained in the outcome of its first universal periodic review 19 and to give consideration to the concluding observations of the treaty bodies; 3. Condemns the systematic abduction, denial of repatriation and subsequent enforced disappearance of persons, including those from other countries, on a large scale and as a matter of State policy, and in this regard strongly calls upon the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea urgently to resolve these issues of international concern, in a transparent manner, including by ensuring the immediate return of abductees; 4. Underscores its very serious concern regarding reports of torture, summary executions, arbitrary detention, abductions and other forms of human rights violations and abuses that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea commits against citizens of other countries within and outside of its territory; 5. Expresses its very deep concern at the precarious humanitarian situation in the country, which could rapidly deteriorate owing to limit ed resilience to natural disasters and to government policies causing limitations in the availability of and access to adequate food, compounded by structural weaknesses in agricultural production resulting in significant shortages of diversified food and the State restrictions on the cultivation of and trade in foodstuffs, as well as the prevalence of chronic and acute malnutrition, particularly among the most vulnerable groups, pregnant and lactating women, children, persons with disabilities, older perso ns and political prisoners, and urges the Government of the Democratic People ’s Republic of Korea, in this regard, to take preventive and remedial action, cooperating with international donor agencies and in accordance with international standards for monitoring humanitarian assistance; 6. Welcomes the latest report to the Human Rights Council of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People ’s Republic of Korea; 20 7. Reiterates its appreciation for the report of the group of independent experts on accountability for human rights violations in the Democratic People ’s Republic of Korea 21 established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 31/18 of 23 March 2016, 22 including options to seek accountability and secure truth and justice for all victims; 8. Welcomes steps taken pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 34/24 of 24 March 2017 23 to strengthen the capacity of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including its field-based structure in Seoul, to allow the implementation of relevant recommendations made by the group of independent experts on accountability aimed at strengthening current monitoring and documentation efforts, establishing a central repository for information and evidence and having experts in legal accountability assess all information and testimonies with a view to developing possible strategies to be used in any future accountability process, and strongly encourages the Office of the High Com missioner to expedite the process for strengthening the capacity of the Office; 9. Reiterates its appreciation for the work of the commission of inquiry, recognizes the continuing importance of its report, and regrets that the commission __________________ 19 20 21 22 23 18-22276 A/HRC/13/13. A/HRC/37/69. A/HRC/34/66/Add.1. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/71/53), chap. IV, sect. A. Ibid., Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/72/53), chap. IV, sect. A. 7/10