[Yonhap News Illustration] 

A resolution on North Korean human rights, co-sponsored by the South Korean government, was adopted at the UN Human Rights Council on March 30 (local time).

According to the South Korean Mission to Geneva, the Human Rights Council adopted the North Korean human rights resolution by consensus, without a vote, at its 61st session held at the UN Office at Geneva. Fifty countries, including South Korea, participated as co-sponsors.

The resolution condemns the systematic and widespread human rights violations and crimes against humanity in North Korea and urges the implementation of previous resolutions on North Korean human rights by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

It also includes emphasis on freedom of movement and freedom of expression from last year's comprehensive report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on North Korean human rights, and incorporates humanitarian issues such as the immediate repatriation of abductees and the resumption of reunions for separated families.

The resolution also welcomes North Korea's participation in the 4th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

The UN Human Rights Council's resolution on North Korean human rights has been adopted for 24 consecutive years since the Human Rights Committee, its predecessor, in 2003.

South Korea participated as a co-sponsor from 2008 to 2018 but abstained from 2019 during the Moon Jae-in administration. Under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, South Korea returned as a co-sponsor in 2023.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The government notes that in this resolution, the Human Rights Council acknowledges North Korea's efforts by welcoming cases of North Korea's compliance with human rights obligations and its participation in the 4th cycle UPR, and by emphasizing the importance of dialogue and engagement for improving the human rights situation in North Korea, including inter-Korean dialogue."