(MENAFN- QNA) South Korea on Wednesday welcomed the adoption of a U.N. resolution on North Korea's dismal human rights conditions, calling for the North to take concrete action to improve its situation.
A U.N. General Assembly committee on Tuesday passed a resolution calling for the referral of North Korea's human rights violations to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a 111-19 vote. Fifty-five countries abstained.
The move came after the U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) published a report in February that accused Pyongyang of "systematic, widespread and grave violations of human rights." The COI recommended that the Security Council refer Pyongyang's "crimes against humanity" to the ICC.
Seoul's foreign ministry hailed the passage of the resolution, saying that the move reflects how seriously the international community regards North Korea's human rights abuses.
"The adoption of the resolution reflects the international community's concerns and willingness that the recommendations by the COI should be thoroughly implemented to improve the dismal situation in North Korea," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "We expect North Korea to take concrete actions to improve its human rights situation by accepting the recommendations."
The resolution, drafted by the European Union and co-sponsored by a record 60 nations, is expected to be put to vote at the plenary session of the General Assembly early next month.
Members of the committee passed the European Union-authored resolution with 111 in favor and 19 against, while 55 members abstained.
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