SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - South Korea will continue to support a UN General Assembly resolution condemning North Korea's human rights abuses and violations.
According to the resolution disclosed on Wednesday, South Korea remains a co-sponsor, dispelling speculation that Seoul would soften its stance toward North Korea to avoid provoking Pyongyang under President Lee Jae Myung's rapprochement.
After co-sponsoring the resolution from 2008 to 2018, South Korea withdrew under the Moon Jae-in administration due to concerns about inter-Korean relations, but rejoined in 2023 under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s tougher stance toward the North.
"The government believes it is important to improve the human rights situation in North Korea and will continue to cooperate with the international community. This is why we are participating as a co-sponsor of this resolution," said a Foreign Ministry official.
The resolution is expected to be adopted at the UN General Assembly's plenary session next month.
This year's resolution condemns North Korea for diverting excessive resources to military spending and illegal nuclear and missile programs at the expense of its people.
It also highlights the worsening human rights situation there including the plight of separated families, following North Korea's announcement in January 2024 that it would no longer pursue reunification with the South.
North Korea has strongly opposed these resolutions. Last November, a spokesperson for its Foreign Ministry denounced the resolution as a "provocation" led by the U.S. and its allies, claiming it infringes on the country's dignity and sovereignty.
* This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP.
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