TOKYO (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, the United States slapped sanctions on Kim and ten more North Korean senior officials as well as five entities, including the Ministry of People's Security, for their role in human rights abuses.
"The government [of South Korea] appreciates and welcomes the US decision to impose sanctions against those involved in human rights violations in North Korea. This move demonstrates our commitment to strengthen the sanctions regime against the DPRK in various directions," the ministry said in a statement.
Over the recent years, the North Korean leadership has been repeatedly accused of human rights violations. In 2013, the UN Human Rights Council established the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea to investigate the systematic violation of human rights in the country, with a view to ensure full accountability, in particular for violations which may amount to crimes against humanity.