Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea
A/RES/79/181
whereabouts in good faith and in a transparent manner, including by ensuring the
realization of the immediate return of all abductees, detainees and unrepatriated prisoners
of war;
4.
Underscores its very serious concern regarding reports of torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, 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 Member
States within and outside of its territory, and urges the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea to disclose all relevant information to bereaved families and relevant
entities;
5.
Expresses its very deep concern about the prevalence of chronic and acute
malnutrition, in particular among persons in the most vulnerable situations, including
pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls, children, persons with disabilities,
older persons and prisoners, throughout the entire penal system and in all places
of detention, which is exacerbated by a lack of access to basic services, including
healthcare, clean water, sanitation and hygiene services, structural weaknesses in
agricultural production that result in shortages of diversified food, limitations in the
capacity of the Government to respond to natural disasters and government policies
that limit access to and availability of adequate food, including through restrictions
on the cultivation of and trade in foodstuffs and the closure of the border, and urges
the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in this regard, to take
preventive and remedial action, including by cooperating with international donor and
humanitarian agencies and allowing them access to people in vulnerable situations in
order to implement humanitarian assistance programmes, monitored in a manner
consistent with international standards;
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, 26 including the efforts to uphold a two-track approach of engagement and
accountability, given the need for a comprehensive approach;
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, 27 established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 31/18,
including options to seek accountability and secure truth and justice for all victims;
8.
Welcomes the latest report of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights 28 on steps taken pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 34/24
of 24 March 2017, 29 40/20 of 22 March 2019 30 and 46/17 of 23 March 2021, 31 and
also welcomes Council resolution 55/21, which continue 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 developi ng possible strategies
to be used in any future accountability process;
__________________
A/HRC/55/63.
A/HRC/34/66/Add.1.
28
A/HRC/52/64.
29
See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-second Session, Supplement No. 53
(A/72/53), chap. IV, sect. A.
30
Ibid., Seventy-fourth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/74/53), chap. IV, sect. A.
31
Ibid., Seventy-sixth Session, Supplement No. 53 (A/76/53), chap. V, sect. A.
26
27
24-24223
9/14