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A United Nations General Assembly committee on Friday passed a resolution calling on North Korea to respect human rights, a day later than originally expected. That leaves the way clear for ratification in the General Assembly next month, but a UN official said it is customary to accept resolutions passed in committee. North Korean Deputy UN Ambassador Kim Chang-guk was at the committee meeting on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, former Czech president Vaclav Havel and former Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik held a press conference at UN headquarters urging the Security Council to intervene in the North Korean human rights situation. They recently released a report on the issue.
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A protester chants slogans as police stand guard during a protest in front of the head office of the Hyundai Group in Seoul on Thursday. Dozens of protesters demanded the group stop package tours to the North's Mt. Kumgang resort. The sign showing Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun and the North's leader Kim Jong-il reads, "Big spy! National traitor offering a pile of money to Kim Jong-il."/Reuters
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Stressing the need for forceful measures against the communist country, Bondevik said that the North must let human rights organizations inspect the situation in all parts of the country and release all political prisoners. He urged the Security Council intervene, if necessary to the point of invoking Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which permits economic and military steps to maintain or restore international peace and security. He drew attention to South Korea¡¯s change of heart on the matter in deciding to vote for the UN resolution.
Havel stressed the nuclear crisis must not be allowed to overshadow human rights, saying it was a key responsibility of the UN to resolve the serious abuses in North Korea. Wiesel said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il lives in seclusion because he is ashamed at subjecting North Korean children to their suffering.
Kim Myong-gil, the deputy chief of North Korea¡¯s UN mission, condemned South Korea for supporting the resolution, warning the move ¡°would not have a positive influence on inter-Korean relations.¡± He slammed the resolution as interference in his country¡¯s internal affairs.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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