Unification Ministry’s Stance on
the Adoption of Resolution on Situation of
Human Rights in the DPRK
at the 58th
Session of UNHRC
April 4, 2025
The ROK Government welcomes the adoption by consensus of the
resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK at the 58th
session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which was
co-sponsored by 54 countries including the ROK.
The ROK Government is deeply concerned over the ongoing systematic,
widespread and gross human rights violations in the North. We urge the
North to take all necessary measures to improve its human rights
situation, including actively addressing the issues of abductees,
detainees and unrepatriated POWs and ending the inhumane treatment of
forcibly repatriated defectors.
In particular, the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Working
Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted an opinion on March 13 stating
that the North’s detention of missionaries Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie
and Choi Chun-gil constitutes arbitrary detention. Accordingly, the
ROK Government calls for the immediate and unconditional release of
our nationals.
The ROK Government also expresses concern over the state of forced
labor in the North, as well as the inhumane conditions resulting from
the North’s troop deployment to Russia.
The ROK Government will continue to work closely with the
international community to achieve meaningful progress in improving
human rights in the North.
* Unofficial translation
