Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea A/RES/79/181 Noting with concern the government restrictions that have compelled the international staff of humanitarian agencies to leave the country and suspend assistance projects and the effect that these restrictions may have had on the levels of malnutrition and access to health services, water and sanitation, Taking note of the ongoing strategic framework for cooperation between the United Nations and the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Government’s commitment in accordance with the principles, goals and targets of the Sustainable Development Goals 14 and in line with its commitments to international agreements and conventions, Stressing again with grave concern the urgency and importance of the issue of international abductions, which involves a serious violation of human rights, and of the immediate return of all abductees, as they and their family members are ageing and there is no time to lose, expressing grave concern at the long years of severe suffering experienced by abductees and their families as a result of their forced separation, and the lack of any concrete or 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 the identical and non-substantive replies by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the numerous communications transmitted by the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and strongly demanding again that the Democratic People’s Repu blic of Korea sincerely listen to the voices of the victims and their families to address all allegations of enforced disappearances, clarify the fate and whereabouts of disappeared persons and faithfully provide accurate, detailed and full information promptly to the families of the victims, and resolve immediately all issues relating to all abductees, in particular the realization of the immediate return of all abductees of Japan and the Republic of Korea, Noting with concern the allegations of continued violations of the human rights of unrepatriated prisoners of war and their descendants, and the continued failure of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in its obligations to repatriate under the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, of 12 August 1949, 15 and noting with concern also the issue of nationals of other Member States arbitrarily detained in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with no information available regarding their health or the conditions of their detention, Stressing the urgency and importance of the issue of separated families, including affected Koreans worldwide, and in this regard urging the resumption of the reunions of separated families, considering the advanced age of the family members concerned, including the implementation of 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, to end their forced separation, and allow 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, Noting with concern the possible negative impact on the human rights situation, including that of separated families, following the announcement of the Democratic __________________ 14 15 4/14 See resolution 70/1. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 972. 24-24223