Natalia Bratslavsky/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — United Nations officials called for renewed engagement with North Korea in the hopes of growing compliance in terms of human rights.
U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic highlighted the “widespread and systematic” crimes the North Korean government has perpetrated before the security council Monday. “Rarely has such an extensive charge-sheet of international crimes been brought to this Council’s attention,” he said.
By a vote of 11-2-2, the council agreed to place the issue of human rights in North Korea on its agenda.
Simonovic alluded to a 400-page report released in February that documented alleged human rights violations including first-hand testimony from victims and witnesses. He also said that his two goals are to promote “accountability and engagement for reform” with North Korea.
The U.N. Security Council could send North Korean leaders to face an international criminal court.
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