UNITED NATIONS, December 23 (Sputnik) – The UN Security Council started discussion of human rights record in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday, despite objections from Russia and China.
The move follows the UN General Assembly non-binding resolution adopted last Thursday, calling on the UN Security Council to consider referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court over its crimes against humanity.
Before the Security Council meeting on North Korea, the members held a vote on whether DPRK human rights record should be included on the Security Council's agenda. China and Russia voted against it, but because the council’s vote was procedural, no vetoes could be used. Chad and Nigeria abstained. Eleven members supported the move, and the meeting began.
In February, the UN Commission of Inquiry released a report documenting wide-ranging crimes against humanity in North Korea, urging the international community to protect DPRK people from these crimes.
