Human Rights Abuses and Violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - High-level plenary, General Assembly, 79th session

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to start. I call to order the high-level plenary meeting to address the human rights abuses and violations being committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This meeting is held in accordance with resolution 79 slash one eight one of 19th December 2024. I warmly welcome all of you. As mentioned in my letter dated one and first and 12th April 2025. This meeting will consist of an opening segment and a plenary segment. This meeting will provide an opportunity to address the human rights abuses and violations being committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, featuring testimony by civil society representatives and other experts. I also welcome Ms. Ilse Brands-Kaeris, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Miss Elizabeth Salmon, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Miss Enju Kim, Mister Greg Scarletoy, Miss and Mr. Sean Chung as civil society representatives. And I look forward to your valuable contributions. I'll give the floor to Ms. Ilse Brands-Kaeris, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Thank you for this opportunity to participate in this High-Level Plenary Meeting on Human Rights Abuses and Violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The human rights situation in the country has been of grave concern for years, and in many respects is deteriorating. and the international community has taken initiatives to respond. Twenty-two years ago, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights adopted the first resolution on human rights in the DPRK, and a year later established the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK. Eleven years ago, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK issued a landmark report documenting the severe and widespread violations in the country, some of which may amount to crimes against humanity. OHCHR has been following up on the findings of the Commission, and we monitor, document, analyze, and report on the human rights situation in the DPRK. The Office engages with the governments of all States concerned, victims, civil society and others. In September this year, at the request of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights will present a report to the Council which assesses the human rights situation over the past decade in the DPRK and proposes a way forward. As part of the Office's mandate to pursue accountability for serious violations that may amount to international crimes, our Office is building a central repository of information and evidence of human rights violations in the DPRK. It includes more than 800 first-hand interviews of victims and witnesses, official documents from the DPRK, satellite and photographic images, as well as expert assessments. The repository enables deeper analysis of patterns of violations, including executions, arbitrary detention, torture, and forced disappearance and abductions and forced labor. The United Nations Human Rights Office stands ready to cooperate with member states on judicial investigations, including by sharing information from the repository in accordance with the United Nations Secretariat's cooperation framework. Given the gravity and scale of the violations and the inability or unwillingness of the state to pursue accountability, international accountability options must be considered, including referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court. Non-judicial routes to bring redress to victims must also be part of our collective efforts, including truth-telling, memorialization, reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence. Mr. President, the information gathered, verified and analyzed by our office is the basis of our many reports to this Assembly as well as to the Human Rights Council. Despite limited improvements in some areas, such as the treatment of some detainees, our reports show that the human rights situation in the DPRK not only remains dire, but in many aspects is worsening. One example is the violation and crime of enforced disappearance. According to OHCHR analysis, hundreds of thousands of people have been forcibly disappeared by the DPRK, including DPRK nationals, non-return prisoners of war, and nationals from the Republic of Korea, Japan, and other countries. Their families have a right to know what happened to their loved ones. to connect with them or receive their remains along with reparations. None of this has occurred, leaving victims, many of whom are at an advanced age, without a remedy for a very prolonged period. Forced labor in various forms is deeply entrenched in the country. Children are coerced into work. People are mobilized in so-called shock brigades that perform arduous manual labor Inmates in political prison camps work in dangerous workplaces for long hours, and DPRK citizens working abroad are subject to constant surveillance, with the vast majority of their earnings going to the state. Widespread hunger due to lack of access to food and food insecurity has been a concern for decades. According to the United Nations data, around 40% of the population are food insecure, with high levels of undernourishment in women and children. There are indications that a high number of children are stunted, which will affect them for the rest of their lives. The government acknowledges this dire food situation. Restrictions on freedom of expression have also increased in recent years. The authorities have adopted several laws prohibiting access to information coming from outside the country. The laws carry severe punishments, including the death penalty in some cases. The internet is not available. Similarly, freedom of movement is extremely restricted. People cannot travel outside, nor in most cases inside the country, without the consent of the authorities. Given this precarious human rights situation in the DPRK, there are also compelling reasons for recognizing international protection needs of DPRK nationals seeking it outside of the country. It is essential that the principle of non-refoulement is scrupulously observed. Our monitoring confirms that individuals forced back in this manner are at real risk of torture, arbitrary detention, and other serious human rights violations. Mr. President, these are but a few of the concerns raised by OHCHR monitoring based on rigorous methodology. We share these concerns with the government and urge them to take concrete steps to improve this dire situation. Improvement of this situation can only come with more openness and engagement by DPRK. The Government has recently shown an increased willingness to engage with our Office, with the United Nations treaty bodies and with the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. Notably, this year, the DPRK accepted a number of recommendations from member states at the UPR, which, if implemented, will bring meaningful change. We look forward to DPRK's scheduled dialogue with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in two months' time. This modest trend is to be welcomed and should be encouraged by every Member State, in particular those with influence on the DPRK. Our Office will continue to engage with the authorities to encourage meaningful steps for the implementation of the recommendations of the human rights mechanisms and to advance the promotion and protection of human rights for all in DPRK. Thank you.

I thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights. I give the floor to Ms. Elizabeth Salmon, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and ladies and gentlemen, for over five years, people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea have been living in absolute isolation. The government's excessive measures placed during the COVID-19 pandemic worsened an already dire human rights situation in the country. The closure of borders, the limited humanitarian assistance from the United Nations and other organizations, and the tight access to information have aggravated the living conditions. In recent years, the DPRK has further restricted the right to move freely, to work, and to express freely through new laws enacted since 2020 and stricter punishments. These laws contain death penalty provisions, public trials, and public executions to instill fear among the population. At the same time, the heightened border control has made escaping almost impossible. While isolating itself from most of the external world, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has admitted that they have deployed its soldiers to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This raises several concerns due to the poor human rights conditions of its soldiers while in service and the government's widespread exploitation of its own people. As the DPRK expands its extreme militarization policies, It exacerbates the extensive reliance on forced labor and quota systems, showing how peace, security, and human rights are strongly interrelated. Firstly, under the guise of militarization, the government exerts extreme surveillance over its citizens. Even young people watching and listening to foreign media or women who escaped but have subsequently been forcibly repatriated, are considered as criminals or traitors facing severe punishment. Secondly, the DPRK's militarization relies on the exploitation of its labor force through a state-controlled system that finances its military ventures. The DPRK exports labor overseas, generating foreign currency, and has begun exporting soldiers and military equipment too, aiming to gain political, economic, or technical know-how in return. Thirdly, prioritizing military spending has led to underinvestment in social welfare. resulting in large segments of the population lacking basic necessities like food, healthcare, water, and sanitation. The UN estimates that in 2023, the under-five mortality rate in the DPRK stood at 18 deaths per 1,000 live births. Over 45% of the population are undernourished. Over half of households lack adequate sanitation, causing diarrhea and death among children and worsening malnutrition. The militarization of the DPRK also disproportionately affects women and girls. Women, who already have undervalued socioeconomic status, find it harder to protect themselves, and have limited opportunities for political participation. Excellencies, since the beginning of my mandate, I have focused on the lived experiences of victim survivors of human rights violations in the DPRK, especially women and girls. Understanding what they have lived through allows us to better address their rights needs, and wishes. It also underscores the urgency of restoring their dignity and repairing the harm they have suffered. I strongly encourage host states and the international community to uphold victims' right to reparations, even if violations are not caused by them. While a victim-centered approach entails multiple measures, Amplifying their voices is one of the most crucial. Today, high-level plenary meeting offer us an opportunity to listen to their journeys escaping from the DPRK and the violations they suffered. Some escapees have engaged in high levels of political engagement, both in the Republic of Korea and the United States. With no civic space in the DPRK, others have acted as an alternative civil society, conducting research and advocacy. In this unique situation, where it is becoming increasingly hard to communicate with people in the DPRK, escapees can help us identify what people in the DPRK want, drawing the red lines and paving the way for sustainable peace. Ladies and gentlemen, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War. Peace is a foundation for human rights. Human rights cannot thrive without peace. In this rapidly developing political climate, we must act together to prevent geopolitical tensions from destabilizing the Korean Peninsula. The serious human rights violations in the DPRK continue and are even worsening in this unprecedented isolation. Thousands of people are separated between the DPRK and the Republic of Korea and have not been able to communicate with each other. Thousands of victims of enforced disappearance do not know the whereabouts of their beloved ones. Let me be clear on this. Engagement and peace negotiations do not mean we put aside accountability and justice. On the contrary, they must be pursued in parallel. The 16 international human rights mechanisms offer multiple tools to support such processes. From regular visits of independent experts or human rights monitoring bodies, technical cooperation to improve the human rights protection system, providing support to the implementation of recommendations made at the Universal Periodic Review, among others. Finally, let us remember that any engagement in future talks with the DPRK must be for the people of the DPRK and with its people living abroad. Thank you.

I thank the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. I now give the floor to Ms. Eun-joo Kim, escapee from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and human rights activist.

Your Excellencies and distinguished delegates, my name is Eunju Kim. I'm a North Korean defector and a human rights advocate. Today, I'm here to speak for the many people who are still suffering under the North Korea regime. In North Korea, I lost my father to starvation. One day, my mother and older sister left home to search for food. I was left behind, just 11 years old, waiting alone in the dark, it's night. I was counting from one to 100, believing that if I finished counting, my mother would walk through the door. After six days without food, I wrote what I believed would be my final words, not because I was afraid of dying, but because I felt the pain of being abandoned. But I survived. When my mother finally returned, she said, "If you are going to die anyway, Better to be shot crossing the Tumen River than starve here. So we escaped North Korea, simply hoping to find something to eat. But on our first night in China, my 40-year-old sister was kidnapped, sexually abused, and left on the roadside. Later, my mother, sister, and I, all of us were sold for only 2,000 riyal, less than $300 US. This tragedy is not only my family's story. Many others faced the same brutal reality under the North Korean regime. Even today, people in North Korea are starving. Women and girls are trafficked and abused in China. Thousands of defectors live in constant fear of forced repatriation. and North Korea's human rights violations are becoming more systematic, organized, and spread beyond its borders. Today, young North Korean soldiers are caught up in a new kind of modern-day slavery, sent to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine. They have no idea where they are, whom they are fighting against, or why. and their lives become a means for Kim Jong-un regime to make money. While their parents left behind in North Korea are forced to endure the unbearable pain of losing their sons as cannon fodder of a foreign battlefield. North Korea's involvement in Russia's war is not only a grave human right violations, but also a serious threat to international peace and security. This is a new and unacceptable form of human trafficking in our modern world. Such systematic abuses constitute crimes against humanity under the international law. Kim Jong-un, as the ultimate authority of this regime, must be investigated and held accountable by the International Criminal Court. In this regard, it is encouraging that the Council of Europe is pushing to establish a special tribunal to hold Russia accountable for its crime of aggression in Ukraine. This could also make it possible to prosecute Kim Jong-un and his military leadership. In addition, I would like to urge the European Union and other nations to consider creating a North Korea human rights law or appointing a special ambassador solely dedicated to North Korea human rights issues. This would strengthen accountability for Kim Jong-un's regime. As we have seen through North Korea's involvement in Russia's war in Ukraine, the North Korea's human rights issue is no longer just a matter for the people in North Korea. Anyone in the world could be the next victim. Please. Do not turn away from the innocent lives being lost in North Korea and elsewhere. Your Excellencies, silence is complicity. Stand firm against the regime's systematic atrocities. Restoring human rights in North Korea is not just about helping its people survive. It is about defending global peace and upholding the dignity of all humanity. One day, I hope to return to North Korea, hand in hand with my daughters, with my children, to show them a North Korea not defined by control and fear, but filled with freedom and hope. If we raise our voices, if we take action, that day will come sooner than we imagine. And to those who are struggling right now just to survive, our solidarity can be the very hope that saves their lives. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Kim. I give the floor to Mr. Greg Scarlatoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.

Thank you, sir. If I may say so, outstanding Romanian pronunciation. You got it. Your Excellency, Filamon Yang, President of the General Assembly at its 79th session, Mr. Eze Branskeris, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Professor Elizabeth Salmon, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK, Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to speak on behalf of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, HRNK. We are an NGO holding UN ECOSOC consultative status. Since 2001, we have embarked on a mission to research, investigate, and report on human rights violations perpetrated by the DPRK regime. point I wish to emphasize is that DPRK human rights violations reinforce a regime that is exporting violence and instability not only in the Northeast Asia region, but also in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. You may all be familiar with the fact that the DPRK has been exporting weapons and ammunition to the terrorist groups that have encircled the State of Israel. Three run. The Type 73 submachine gun, you can see it in the hands of each and every fighter in the Middle East, whether you're talking about Syria, whether you're talking about Iraq, whether you're talking about Yemen. The first time the North Korean Musudan ballistic missile was tested, that's a missile based on an old Soviet submarine-launched ballistic missile, it did not happen in North Korea. It happened in Iran. You all remember that massive missile attack against Israel? Those liquid-fuel missiles were based on a North Korean design. And, you know, we see what's happening on the Ukrainian front right now. Millions, millions of North Korean artillery shells have been exported to Russia, to the Ukrainian front. KN-23, KN-24 ballistic missiles have been deployed against Ukraine, Ukrainian cities, Ukrainian civilians, men, women, children. Even troops from the 11th armed corps of the Korean People's Army, the North Korean People's Army, have been deployed to the Ukrainian front. 11,000 of them, at the very least, the numbers are increasing. I do not believe reports that they're just gun fodder. They're not. They're very good troops. They're well trained, well fed, well indoctrinated. What they have to learn is combined operations, artillery, drones, infantry. They're learning fast. So what is the point I'm trying to make here? The point I'm trying to make here is that North Korea is no longer just a Korean Peninsula threat. The DPRK is no longer just a Northeast Asian threat. The DPRK is exporting instability and violence to the Middle East and to Europe. And the root cause of this is the human rights violations that the DPRK perpetrates. Let me quote my good friend John Sifton and my good friends at Human Rights Watch who issued a press release on May 18th, just yesterday. The United Nations General Assembly should establish a new body to examine the connections between the North Korean government's repressive system and its military programs and nuclear weapons development. Concerned governments need to send high-level officials to this plenary today. to offer specific ideas on how the General Assembly can better hold North Korea accountable by documenting the links between the DPRK's human rights abuses and its weapons programs. Ladies and gentlemen, what do we know about human rights denial in North Korea? Most of the 25 million people of North Korea are victims of the Kim family regime's policy of human rights denial. The people of North Korea face discrimination based on a loyalty-based system called songbun. The regime preserves itself through producing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, maintaining the Korean People's Army, and keeping its key elites happy through access to luxury goods and also hard currency procured from the outside world, generally through illicit means, and also in violation of applicable UN sanctions. In order to procure the resources needed to preserve itself, the regime oppresses and exploits its people at home and abroad, Prior to COVID, we knew that there were about 100,000 North Korean people deployed primarily to Russia, to China, and to the Middle East. Up to 90% of their salaries were being confiscated by the regime. This DPRK regime perpetuates itself through overwhelming coercion, control, surveillance, punishment, as well as strict information control. We also know that the major agents of potential change in North Korea are the very people of North Korea. And when I say change, I mean peaceful change, peaceful transformation. All right, I'm an adopted American, a naturalized American. I was on the streets of Bucharest in December 1989 during the anti-communist revolution. I know how terrible a non-peaceful transformation can be. What we need in North Korea is peaceful transformation. We need a coherent information campaign focusing on telling the North Korean people three stories: the abysmal human rights situation, the corruption of their leadership, in particular the corruption of the inner core of the Kim family, and also the truth about the outside world. especially free, democratic, prosperous Republic of Korea, South Korea. Like-minded UN member states, democracies, must reassume leadership. We must retake the high ground we once held on DPRK human rights at the UN, and the General Assembly can play an extraordinary role in this process. We must resuscitate the coalition of these like-minded UN member states and democracies. We need stronger UN General Assembly resolutions. We need to advance human rights through multilateral diplomacy. And we need to focus on a human rights upfront approach to the North Korean conundrum. We must really rely on the members of this like-minded coalition. We know who they are. The EU, South Korea, Japan, Australia, other UN member states, of course, the global South. The global South is extraordinarily important. We must rely on our friends, on our partners, on our allies in the global south who have experienced tremendous human rights violations themselves. They can be absolutely helpful, tremendous, critical allies. Advancing human rights through multilateral international diplomacy will be key to what I propose as a human rights upfront approach to the North Korean conundrum. And of course, I'm speaking on this hallowed ground at the UN. When you say a human rights upfront approach, what you mean is bringing together the three branches, political, humanitarian, human rights. What I mean by this is placing human rights up front and center as we deal with the DPRK. What I mean is inducing peaceful change in North Korea. So let us try to empower the people, and I repeat, the people of North Korea. Let us step up efforts to send them information from the outside world, information telling them three fundamental stories again, the story of their own human rights, secondly, the story of the corruption of their leadership, And then the story of the outside world, especially the story of South Korea, the Republic of Korea. North Korea joined the United Nations at the same time as South Korea in 1991. The DPRK assumed international obligations as it became a UN member state. North Korea must observe the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The DPRK acceded to the two human rights covenants in 1982, actually nine years before it joined the UN, both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the ICCPR, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the ICESCR. The DPRK has also joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, the Convention on the Rights of Children, CRC, and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. And yet, each and every conceivable civil, political, economic, social, and cultural right is violated in North Korea. Let us take a look at the Constitution of the DPRK. Please excuse this shameless exercise in self-promotion. It's on our website, HRNK.org. You can take a look at the constitution of the DPRK. The constitution and other laws supposedly protect rights such as the freedom of religion, freedom of assembly. None of these rights are observed in practice. All that matters is North Korean ideology and the TPMI, the 10 principles of monolithic ideology. So, again, we used to think about North Korea as a Korean Peninsula issue, as a regional issue. That is no longer the case. In order to support the regime, In order to support the exportation of instability and violence to the Middle East, to Europe, the DPRK regime relies on human rights violations. And I will strongly argue in favor of a human rights approach to the DPRK. Unless we resolve the abysmal human rights situation, there will be no answer to this challenge. And we have had a report of the UNCOI, the UN Commission of Inquiry. I know that some of the distinguished delegates here have an issue with country-specific mechanisms, and that is all right. But in February 2014, A UN Commission of Inquiry, three head commissioners, one Serbian, Sonja Beserko, one Australian, Michael Kirby, one Indonesian, Marzuki Darusman, found that crimes against humanity were being committed in North Korea pursuant to policies established at the highest level of the state. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I will argue that the DPRK regime thrives on crimes against humanity. This regime thrives on human rights violations. And if we are to bring some resolution to the Korean Peninsula, if we are to bring back peace, prosperity, resolution to the Northeast Asia region, and other parts of the world, we do need to focus on North Korean human rights. Thank you very much for listening, and please remember HRNK.org. Thank you very much.

I thank Mr. Kalatoiu. I give the floor to Ms. Guri Kang, escapee from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. In October 2023, I escaped from North Korea to South Korea on a small 10-meter wooden boat with my mother and aunt. It was a miracle that my family made it safely to South Korea. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I recall seeing many fishing boats begin to disappear in the coastal city of Wonsan, where I lived. Many of those boats were probably either captured by North Korea's patrol vessels or lost at sea while trying to flee South Korea. However, there are still billions of North Koreans who are deprived of fundamental human rights, who have no access to any information about the outside world, who believe that they have no choice but to live under three generations of the Kim dynasty's personality cult. My entire family was banished from Pyongyang to the countryside when I was five years old, because my grandmother was caught practicing folk religion. The only religion or belief permitted in North Korea is the Juche ideology, a pseudo-religion that worships the Kim family and justifies their horatory rule. There have even been executions for religious or superstitious activities. Even at such a young age, I could not understand why we had to suffer persecution on religious grounds. Living in the countryside, I witnessed and experienced the harsh life of ordinary North Koreans. Unlike in the capital city of Pyongyang, there are no food rations or electricity available in the rural regions of the country. At first, I made a living by teaching table tennis, which is a popular pastime for officers of the government. Then, I thought that I could make a lot of money by becoming an owner of a fishing boat, so I borrowed money from my mother to buy a small wooden fishing boat. However, the life of a woman as a fishing boat owner in North Korea was difficult. I realized that in North Korea, ordinary people work hard on to the gains stolen by the officers. Young people like me found no hope for justice or reform because the very people who were supposed to combat corruption were the ones committing it. However, I was lucky to access to information from the outside world. At first, I was given a USB containing South Korean dramas. I could not stop watching South Korean dramas or South Korean TV broadcasts, even though carrying code would have resulted in harsh punishment. I found them so refreshing and more credible than North Korea's state propaganda. In particular, the stories and that anyone fleeing North Korea would be welcomed by the outside world, decide to undertake the dangerous journey. The North Korean authorities are keenly aware of the impact of outside media. They want to keep the North Korean people in the dark and prevent them from daring to even dream of freedom. COVID-19 lockdowns gave them a perfect excuse and opportunity. As the North Korean people were suffering from hyperinflation, economic hardship, and widespread hunger, from the loss of trade with China, the North Korean authorities used the occasion to eradicate South Korean cultural influence. After the pandemic began, North Korean young people were forced to memorize the new reactionary Short and Cultural Rejection Law, the Youth Education Guarantee Law, and the Pyongyang Cultural Language Law. Three of my friends were executed, two of them in public, for distributing South Korean dramas. One of them was only 19 years old. At first, I could not believe this. Their crime was watching South Korean dramas and posting them on today's press, which made them guilty of distribution, which carries the death penalty. It was as if they were guilty of heinous crimes. Still, I am living proof that even within a totalitarian system like North Korea, information can spread and inspire people to yearn for freedom. There's a saying that when your hand is on a hot furnace, when seconds feel like an hour. The North Korean people are living as if in a furnace, with wounds covering their bodies. They also suffer mental scars from the daily human rights abuses and violations they endure. The exploitation of the North Korean people is now a threat international fish and security, border and air force. Nevertheless, the people of North Korea should be encouraged to know that a lot of countries, including United States and European member states, care about their human rights, which everyone should enjoy without distinction under the UN Charter. I hope that my speech today awakens the North Korean people and helps to reorient their inner human compasses, skewed by the Juche ideology for decades. to point in the direction of freedom. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Kang. I now give the floor to Mr. Seon Chung, CEO of Han Voice, on behalf of a global coalition of 28 civil society organizations.

Your Excellency, Filamon Yang, President of the General Assembly, Assistant Secretary-General Kires, Special Rapporteur Salman, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I'm honored to speak on behalf of 36 civil society partners. We represent human rights defenders, North Korean escapees, former political prisoners, and family members of detainees, abductees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war. We are brought together by a single core belief that the future of the Korean Peninsula will be shaped not by weapons, but by people. To that end, we have five calls to action for member states. First, we call on member states to create a new body that addresses rights and security together. As we've heard extensively today, at its core, North Korea's human rights violations drive its weapons program. the mass diversion of resources while 45% of its population remains malnourished, forced labor at home and abroad hidden in our global supply chains, militarization and foreign deployment in Ukraine, weapons development and export, illicit financial activities, transnational repression, and transnational criminal networks. These threats can no longer be addressed in isolation, and for two decades, North Korea has ignored every UN mechanism, resolution, and report on its human rights violations and its threats to international peace and security. And today, with the Security Council deadlocked, the General Assembly must act. We therefore call for a strong resolution that mandates the creation of a new independent expert body that collects, analyzes, and reports on how North Korea's human rights violations intersect with weapons development, global business, and supply chains. The body should examine credible reports that North Korea's economic model, including systems of forced labor and slavery at home and abroad, is generating substantial revenue. And it should examine how these proceeds, together with gains from illicit activities such as cryptocurrency theft and other transnational crimes, could be diverted to its military programs. And this body should build on decades of information gathered and reported by the Special Rapporteur, OHCHR, and civil society. Second, we call on member states to stop the forcible repatriation of North Koreans and to reunite separated families. Since 2020, China has forcibly returned more than 600 North Korean escapees back to North Korea. One of those returnees is Ms. Kim Chul-ok. She spent 25 years living in China, sold to a Chinese husband and separated from her sister, Ms. Kim Gyu-de. Today, Ms. Kim and over 600 others are at risk of torture, including sexual violence, enforced disappearance, forced labor, and even execution, among other forms of ill treatment. The Commission of Inquiry in 2014 warned that officials involved in the forcible repatriation of North Koreans were at risk of criminal liability for abetting crimes against humanity. And so on behalf of every North Korean woman who was sold into forced marriage, trafficked, who endured sexual and gender-based violence in transit, every North Korean escapee sent back and tortured, we call on China and every member state to end the forcible repatriation of North Koreans once and for all. We call on China and every member state to uphold their obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol, and the UN Convention against Torture. And we call on China and every member state to terminate and amend bilateral treaties that enable forcible repatriation. We call on member states to offer protection and asylum to fleeing North Koreans, to provide safe and legal pathways for them to be able to leave, to increase third country resettlement options, and to pressure countries complicit in forced returns to allow for resettlement. North Korea must immediately release every returnee and drop their illegal border crossing and treason charges. We also call for UNHCR to designate North Korean escapees as refugee surplus, as then High Commissioner Guterres suggested in 2006. North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine must also be protected against forcible repatriation and allowed to resettle in third countries. And at the same time, we urge member states to call for the immediate return of all detainees, abductees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war still held in North Korea, including abducted Japanese citizens, South Korean missionaries, Choi Jong-ki, Kim Jong-uk, Kim Kuk-ki, and the repatriation of remains of the deceased to bereaved families. The fate of the disappeared returnees from the Paradise on Earth movement must also be clarified. We heard at the Security Council last week that time is running out for these families, and they deserve to be reunited with their loved ones. Third, we call on Member States to protect information and aid as lifelines for the North Korean people. On January 23, 2020, North Korea became the first country in the world to close its borders. In response, authorities began enforcing excessive and broad COVID-19 restrictions. They installed new fences, a 20-fold increase in the number of border guard posts, and a standing shoot-on-sight order at the northern border, effectively sealing the North Korean people off from the rest of the world. And to date, none of these restrictions have been lifted five years after the start of the pandemic. And at the same time, North Korea has further criminalized not only foreign media, but also any contact with the outside world while denying entry to international humanitarian staff. And so UN agencies and civil society are in the dark about the current needs of the North Korean people on the ground. We call on North Korea to repeal the vaguely worded anti-state and anti-nation crimes in the criminal code, the 2020 reactionary ideology and culture rejection law, and other measures that criminalize freedom of information and freedom of expression. We also call on North Korea to grant unfettered access for UN agencies and civil society to assess conditions on the ground and deliver lifesaving food, medicine, and vaccines, prioritizing the most vulnerable, including prisoners. Fourth, we call on member states to ensure accountability and justice for victims. We must support every path that brings justice to victims. This includes exploring the use of universal jurisdiction for international crimes. We welcome the court decisions ordering North Korea to compensate victims and urge governments to find creative ways to enforce these court decisions, as in the Otto Warmbier case. We also call on member states to urge the Security Council to refer this situation to the International Criminal Court. Excellencies, impunity must have costs. We urge individual member states to impose and enforce targeted human rights sanctions through independent and fair processes. We urge individual member states to sanction every official and entity credibly found to be responsible for North Korea's atrocity crimes, including crimes against humanity. But accountability, true accountability, starts at home. The North Korean government owes its victims full reparations, including compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, satisfaction, and guarantees of non-repetition. And until that day, we urge Member States to back survivor-centered, survivor-serving work, including psychosocial care, truth-telling, community reparations, and memorials that keep the record and our resolve alive. And finally, we call on Member States to invest in the North Korean people. I mean, we've heard today and for the last couple years that the human rights situation has grown darker in recent years. But the story of North Korea is not a story of passive suffering or even the story of one man. It is the story of the North Korean people's resilience and resistance. Since the 1990s, ordinary North Koreans, led by North Korean women, have built underground markets and networks to survive, with an entire generation growing up in these markets. They've smuggled information in through memory cards, watching South Korean television shows in secret, and when escape was their only option, they risked everything to leave, and they rebuilt their lives abroad, sending back millions of dollars in remittances, transforming the country from the ground up. Civil society outside the country our global community, have helped accelerate this change. For decades, we have rescued and resettled tens of thousands of North Koreans. We have pierced the information wall, enabling access to information and technology, documented countless human rights violations, and raised global awareness. And despite the odds, we continue to fight for accountability and justice for victims. But funding is becoming more uncertain, and our efforts are at risk of being scaled back or scrapped just when they're needed most. Excellencies, words are not enough anymore. Member states must commit to sustainable, long-term investments in our work so that these networks and the hope and real change they carry will endure and grow. I would like to end with the words of Mr. Ji Seong-ho. A man who dragged himself thousands of miles on makeshift crutches to freedom and was later elected to the South Korean National Assembly. He tells us, "Each time I hear people speak up for us, I know we are not forgotten, and that change is possible." That fragile hope is now with us. North Koreans are already risking everything for freedom. They risk their lives, their families, and their futures. to be free from a government that represses and exploits its own people. Their fight for justice, for peace, for security, for their freedom is the same fight that birthed the United Nations 80 years ago and anchors the human rights law that we claim to defend. If we fail to act today, we tell every tyrant that crimes against humanity carry no cost. So we need to act. Because the North Korean people haven't given up, and neither will we, neither should you. Thank you.

I thank Mister Chung. We have had the last speaker for the opening segment. We will now begin the plenary segment. In order to allow maximum participation by all in the limited time available. The time limit would be 3 minutes for national statements and five minutes for statements on behalf of a group of states. Should we not have time to hear all statements, written statements may be emailed to e-statements@un.org to be posted under e-statements of the United Nations Journal. I thank you for your cooperation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Mr. President, We are now witnessing the puerile intrigue and fabrication, swayed by arbitrariness and high-handedness of ulterior forces. at the August Assembly Hall of the United Nations, those important mission as it protect and promote genuine human rights among others. It is shocking that such a meeting is convened at the head of course of the United Nations, going against universal will of the international community, opposing politicization, selectivity, double standard of human rights. Yet more deplorable indeed, is the invitation as witnesses of the scum of the earth who don't care about even their parents and families. International community vividly recalls that Shin Dong-hyo, who has gone hell-bent on the plot of the human rights racket against the DPRK at the UN forum almost 10 years ago, confessed the distortion on his past, engrossed on petty money-making. As for human rights organization, such as HRNK and HanBois, their group of the human rights who engaged themselves in preparation, incitement, and abduction of our citizens, and service of fabricated shocking testimonies under the political and financial patronage of the hostile governments, including United States and ROK. Today's meeting, as promised, on the false material framed Kippur scolded subsistence of the swindlers. This fact clearly proves of itself the illegal and intriguing nature of this meeting. DPRK delegation strongly denounces and rejects this meeting, convinced from being political motive to defame and dignity and prestige and plunder sovereignty of our state. The unlawful setting as a trilateral meeting by the United States and the West And the fictitious human rights issue of ours is nothing more than a last resort to conceal the failure of the hostile policy and contravention maneuver by beating at the least hackneyed human rights drum. There could be no worse miscalculation than this. If hostile forces think they can distort reality human rights enjoyed by tens of millions of Korean people, and the social system form guarantee of their genuine human rights. A real culprit to sit human rights talk of the United Nations and none other than the United States and the West that acquire notorious to fame as a state of worst racial discrimination, kingdom of human trafficking, haven of suicide, and criminal state of sexual slavery. Such being the case, these countries insult and slander the human rights situation of other countries at their own will. It cannot but out the just mockery of and challenge to multiple UN resolutions and human rights conventions enshrined in the UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the other relevant principles of human rights. Instead of facilitating respect and cooperation among states and promoting and protecting human rights worldwide, UN Forum is being transformed into the channel of the hegemony and instrumental human rights violations by rampant arbitrariness and high-handedness of certain powers. What I just international community should heighten the vigilance against this dangerous trend. Ensuring genuine human rights is unthinkable even for a moment apart from safeguarding national sovereignty. At his top priority task for ensuring human rights in DPRK, to thoroughly defend the right to sovereignty, existence, and development in the face of existential threat from United States and the other hostile forces. Human rights pressure by hostile forces is getting ever more reckless. It requires that we take all more decisive action to exercise sovereign rights for sake of well-being of the state and people. The DPRK will not tolerate in the slightest reckless human rights racket of the hostile forces. and safeguard sovereignty and security interests of the state, as well as the socialist system, living ground of our people. In conclusion, my delegation strongly call attention to the fact this meeting is a dangerous precedent which contradicts the UN Charter and general principles of the international human rights law with respect for sovereignty and non-interference, as it's called. In this vein, we call on all member states aspiring after independence and justice to categorically oppose and reject the plot of the Al Qura forces in their attempt to politicize and weaponize of the human rights. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. And I give the floor to the Distinguished Representative of the European Union. They will speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Andorra and San Marino, align themselves with this statement. Mr. President, thank you for organizing this meeting, as requested by the General Assembly. We pay tribute to the courage of the escapees who have shared their experiences with us. You have been very brave. We also commend the work of civil society organizations working to highlight human rights violations and abuses being committed in the DPRK. 20 years ago, this General Assembly expressed its serious concern at continuing reports of systemic, widespread, and grave violations of human rights in the DPRK. Ten years ago, the Commission of Inquiry concluded that the gravity, scale, and nature of Pyongyang's human rights violations revealed a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world. And still today, reports, including from the UN and its Special Rapporteur, depict a grave situation, despite attempts by the DPRK to hide reality. Contrary to what was presented recently by the DPRK in its Universal Periodic Review last year, the situation is dramatic. The 2024 OHCHR report found that the DPRK's use of forced labour may in some instances qualify as enslavement, which is a crime against humanity. We also deplore the dire humanitarian situation in the country, where the population suffers severe food insecurity and terrible health conditions. We urge the DPRK to resolve the humanitarian situation of abductees in line with international law, by providing transparency on their status and whereabouts, by releasing them immediately and unconditionally, and by facilitating family reunification. Mr. President, That is why this meeting is needed. That is why it was mandated by the General Assembly, which recognized that there must be consequences for such systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations and abuses. They have become a matter of concern to the international peace and security of all, and we strongly condemn them. There is a direct link between internal repression and the munitions produced by forced labor, which violate human rights abroad. The deployment of North Korean soldiers to support Russia in its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine should be a cause of concern to all sovereign Member States of the United Nations. It constitutes a serious breach of international law, including the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter. How long until we see North Korean troops or weapons in other conflicts around the world? Over recent years, we have also seen how the DPRK is diverting scarce resources toward the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and at the expense of the well-being and human rights of its own people. The EU will continue to support the work of the UN and the Special Rapporteur, who has written that "Member States need to take creative and concrete measures to address the past and ongoing human suffering in the DPRK". We urge the DPRK to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and grant her access to the country. We must ensure that our sustained expressions of concern lead to dialogue and genuine reform, backed by the commitment that the international community's attention will remain steadfast. We urge full implementation of recommendations from the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, along with full respect of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. And we look forward to the report on human rights in the DPRK since 2014 to be submitted to the Human Rights Council at its 60th session. Mr. President, we still hope that the DPRK might end its almost total isolation, resume diplomatic engagement, and grant access to the United Nations agencies and other humanitarian actors to return to the country. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has the honor to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the UN. which from the very outset stresses that our participation in today's meeting should in no way be construed as an endorsement of the holding of this meeting, especially bearing in mind that GA resolution 79/181 was adopted without the consent of the state concerned. that multiple states disassociated themselves from its adoption, and that the resolution itself does not adhere to the very purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Mr. President, the member states of our group of friends attach supreme value to the promotion and protection of all human rights, both individual and collective rights, without distinction as to levels or categories, And we also believe that their promotion and protection must be enhanced on the basis of dialogue and cooperation, while respecting the principles of impartiality, objectivity, transparency, non-selectivity, non-politicization, and non-confrontation, and also taking into account respect for the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state. as set out in the UN Charter and within the framework of equality and mutual respect between States. Therefore, the group rejects the convening of meetings for addressing country-specific human rights situations, as such a practice goes against the principles of impartiality and undermines the development of friendly relations among nations and the achievement of international cooperation in the field of human rights. Moreover, our group of friends reiterates its categorical rejection of double standards in the field of human rights. We believe that such an approach prevents a harmonious environment and progress in this area. Similarly, we express our serious concern at the continued and growing proliferation of mechanisms and procedures that claim to conduct impartial, so-called impartial assessments of the human rights situation in specific states, and which in most cases lack the due consent and participation of the concerned state. They rely on secondary, tertiary, or other sources that may be either biased or lack credibility, and they reflect political agendas of a dubious nature and agendas of certain countries. Mr. President, the group recalls that human rights should not be weaponized nor used to advance political agendas or to meddle in the internal affairs of other states. At the same time, we stress that such double standards undermine the true spirit of promoting and defending human rights and both prevent a harmonious environment and progress in this field. They also weaken human rights institutions. We cannot overemphasize in this context the importance of avoiding the name of the UN and the spirit of the UN be used to guide its efforts and be misused to advance objectives that run counter to the purposes and principles of our founding charter. Our group commends the efforts of the government of the DPRK in many fields, including human rights, with the purpose of ensuring the well-being and prosperity of its people. We call for continued efforts as well as the need to ensure that they are nationally owned. And we stress the primary role of the government of the DPRK and of its institutions in this regard. Additionally, the group calls for an end to the ongoing practice of dealing with country-specific human rights issues in pursuit of certain states' political objectives. The continuation of this practice infringes upon the spirit that must guide the higher ideals for the genuine promotion and protection of human rights. Mr. President, to conclude, While calling for an end to the politicization of human rights, the Group of Friends considers that the best and the only way to strengthen and guarantee full and effective realization of human rights is to strengthen multilateralism while strictly adhering to all the principles I referred to previously. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Lithuania on behalf of the Baltic States.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia, and my own country, Lithuania. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the European Union. We welcome today's discussion and thank the civil society representatives for their critical and moving testimonies. We, the Baltic States, remain seriously concerned about the persistent, widespread, and systematic human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The scale of repression including the extreme restrictions on civil liberties and fundamental freedoms, remains among the most severe globally. The prolonged exposure of the DPRK's borders by the North Korean regime has significantly exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis. Food insecurity has reached its gravest levels in decades. The World Food Program estimates that 10.7 million people, more than 40% of the population, are undernourished. The UN Special Rapporteur has warned that the country is facing the worst humanitarian crisis since the disastrous famine in the late 1990s. Access to essential medicines and health services remains critically limited, as international humanitarian personnel are still denied entry by the North Korean regime. These conditions have a particularly harmful effect on the most vulnerable part of population, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities. We commend civil society actors and human rights NGOs for their vital work in documenting violations and bringing forward the voices of survivors and escapees. Their testimonies constitute an essential source of evidence, contributing to the exposure of human rights violations, guiding policy formulation, and informing the international community response. Today was an excellent case in point. Also, we are gravely concerned by the DPRK's extensive military cooperation with the Russian Federation. Reports of direct and indirect assistance to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including the deployment of thousands of DPRK troops, are deeply troubling and constitute clear violations of the UN Security Council resolutions. We strongly condemn these violations, including the recent mutual defence pact between Russia and North Korea, and call for the immediate cessation of all illicit arms transfers. These actions of those two states constitute clear violations of international law and further intensifying the suffering of both the population of DPRK and civilians affected by armed conflicts beyond its borders, notably in Ukraine. Mr. President, the findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the DPRK over the past decade provide undeniable evidence of grave human rights violations, including forced labor, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and acts of torture. which may amount to crimes against humanity. Recent reports confirm ongoing atrocities, such as extrajudicial executions, widespread tortures, mass starvation, and reprisals against defectors' families. We are particularly alarmed by the widespread use of sexual and gender-based violence. Women and girls, especially those in detention or forcibly repatriated, face sexual violence forced abortions, inhumane detention conditions, and forced labor, all in the context of total impunity. The Commission of Inquiry of the DPRK established responsibility at the highest level of government for ongoing crimes against humanity. In this context, we urge UN Security Council to take meaningful steps including considering referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court and applying targeted sanctions to those responsible for or complicit in these crimes. We echo the 1718 Committee call for members to offset the Panel of Experts' absence by supplying timely, verifiable data. We also urge the Council to set up interim monitoring through a short-term secretariat cell or partnerships with existing analytical bodies to preserve objective oversight until the Panel is reinstated. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Lithuania. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today marks a historic moment. For the first time in the 20-year history of the annual UN General Assembly resolution on the human rights situation in the DPRK, the issue is being presented at a separate high-level meeting of the General Assembly. This provides a meaningful platform for all member states to shed light on the systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations in the DPRK. Indeed, the heartbreaking testimonies of the courageous North Korean escapees, like the previous speakers, Kim Unju and Kang Kyuri, offer irrefutable evidence on the brutality they fled, whether 20 years ago or just recently. These haunting testimonies grow more valuable as escape becomes increasingly rare due to the regime's heightened domestic surveillance and stricter border controls. Over a decade ago, landmark report by the UN Commission of Inquiry found North Korea's human rights violations to be unparalleled in contemporary world. Still today, Pyongyang maintains its stifling grip by controlling every aspect of its people's lives from their birth. Political prison camps and public executions serve as the ultimate mechanisms of terrorizing the population into submission. The 2024 OHCHR report described North Korea's forced labor as a serious human rights violation. which in some instances may constitute a crime against humanity of enslavement. Under recently enacted draconian laws, North Korean teenagers have been sentenced to many years in prison for simply watching and distributing South Korean dramas. North Korea is in many ways a real-life version of George Orwell's novel 1984. However, the DPRK's Horrendous crimes do not stop at the border. The ROK government once again strongly urges the DPRK to immediately resolve all the cases of abductees, including foreign nationals, unrepatriated prisoners of war, and detainees, including the prompt release of three Korean missionaries, Kim Jong-wook, Kim Guk-ki, and Choi Choon-gil. At the same time, we remain deeply concerned about the inhumane treatment of North Korean escapees who face forced repatriation. As such, we urge all states, including neighboring countries, to respect the principle of non-refoulement. Mr. President, for far too long, the DPRK's human rights violations have been overshadowed by its nuclear threats. But human rights abuse is not a second-tier issue. Rather, North Korea's nuclear issue and human rights situation are deeply interconnected and reflect the true nature of the North Korean regime. Their nuclear program is sustained by systemic repression, forced labor, diverted national resources, and total control over its people. If human rights violations stop, nuclear weapons development will also stop. Weapons built through the suffering of the North Korean people are now landing on European soil, thus prolonging the Ukraine war. And its nuclear and missile programs continue to undermine the global nonproliferation regime and threaten international peace and security. I take this opportunity to call on all Member States to acknowledge the gravity of this moment. Let us continue to pressure the DPRK with a unified voice to abandon its repressive policies and uphold the dignity of its people. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr. President. I also thank the briefers for their brave testimonies and their tireless advocacy. It is essential that we continue to shine a light on the grave human rights situation in the DPRK, about which the UK remains deeply concerned. Human rights abuses against North Koreans remain widespread and systematic. Those who perpetrate these abuses remain unaccountable. The regime refuses to acknowledge or act on the 2014 Commission of Inquiry report, which illustrates the multiple human rights violations committed in DPRK. And the DPRK has repeatedly rejected UN resolutions, which set out the many concerns shared by the international community, including the operation of prison camps and forced labor, violations of freedom of religion or belief, and women's rights. North Koreans are denied freedom of movement, and many workers are sent overseas, often into modern slavery. We urge the DPRK to cease these practices without delay. Those wishing to leave do so clandestinely, at huge personal risk. We call on all members to respect the principle of non-refoulement and not return escapees to DPRK. On the 7th of November last year, the UK issued several recommendations to the DPRK as part of the Universal Periodic Review process, including ratifying the UN Convention against Torture and to reform the judicial system to ensure respect for the right to a fair trial. We are pleased that the DPRK engaged with the Universal Periodic Review in November and encouraged them to implement recommendations. We need DPRK to make real and lasting change for the people of the DPRK. We have repeatedly made it clear that the primary cause of the DPRK's humanitarian and food crisis is their continued development of their illegal weapons programme, representing multiple breaches of Security Council resolutions. Indeed, we have heard clearly today also the links between the human rights situation in DPRK and their support for Russia in its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in brazen disregard towards UN sanctions. We condemn these and call on the DPRK to prioritize the well-being of the people in North Korea. We strongly encourage the DPRK to grant access to the Special Rapporteur on the situation on human rights in the DPRK and accept technical cooperation from UN human rights mechanisms, and to enable the return of UN agencies to ensure help reaches those who are most vulnerable. The UK continues to call on DPRK to engage in meaningful diplomacy and accept offers of dialogue. We believe that diplomacy and negotiations are the best way to secure peace and stability, and improve the lives of all North Koreans. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Cuba.

Mr. President, Cuba does not support the mandates or resolutions resulting from selective, discriminatory, and politically motivated exercises which do not have the support of the country concerned. For that reason, my delegation disassociates itself from resolution 79/181, entitled "Situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," pursuant to which we are holding this plenary meeting today. Cuba cannot, nor will it be complicit in attempts to deny the people of the DPRK their right to peace, to self-determination, and to development. My delegation is convinced that these types of exercises do not help improve the human rights situation on the ground. On the contrary, they foster confrontation and mistrust. Why are such initiatives, such as the one we are witnessing today, directed only against developing countries and against countries which are also facing unilateral coercive measures? Why the double standards yet again? Why is the issue of human rights being politicized for political purposes? Mr. President, once again, in the case of the DPRK, punishment and sanctions are being used, infringing upon the selfsame rights which apparently justify this meeting. We should give an opportunity to the Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review to encourage a debate without politicization and to stimulate respectful cooperation with the country concerned. Only international cooperation, respectful dialogue, and strict compliance with the principles of objectivity impartiality and non-selectivity will ensure that we move forward with an effective promotion and protection of all human rights for all people. This is an area where every country faces challenges. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malta.

Thank you, Mr. President. Malta aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to add the following in its national capacity. The persistence of abuses and violations of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as further detailed by the Commission of Inquiry, deserves our continued attention. Malta therefore welcomes the holding of today's meeting to further engage on the acute human rights situation in the country, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 79/181. Malta strongly condemns all human rights violations perpetrated by the DPRK's regime and deplores the continued prioritization of military spending over the real needs of the people. Through the diversion of resources, the regime has rapidly advanced its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile program. Such activities have serious implications on international peace and security. They violate multiple Security Council resolutions while undermining the non-proliferation regime. We recall Resolution 79181, which encourages the Security Council to take action, including by referring the situation to the International Criminal Court. President, We share the concerns raised by the Special Rapporteur, including on restrictions on freedom of expression and other fundamental rights by the DPRK's regime, as well as the forcible repatriation of persons who are subsequently subject to torture and other inhumane treatment. We echo the Special Rapporteur's call on all Member States to adhere to the principle of non-refoulement. The impact of this repressive environment on women and girls is immeasurable. They face unequal access to employment and discriminatory regulations, subject to sexual and gender-based violence and human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced labor, all while having limited access to food, medicines, healthcare, and livelihoods. This is unconscionable and must stop. We equally share concerns raised on violations of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of children, including practices of child labour and the separation of children with disabilities from their parents. In this connection, the Committee on the Rights of the Child also expressed serious concerns about such practices. These are unacceptable and Malta strongly condemns them. On top of ongoing systematic violations of human rights, the country is facing widespread food insecurity, severe hunger and malnutrition. With every ballistic missile test conducted, the DPRK's regime actively chooses to deprive its people of essential nutrition. We call on the DPRK, in line with resolution 79181, to act on its responsibility to protect its population from crimes against humanity. and to allow full, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies to reach people in vulnerable situations. President, to conclude, it is high time to move beyond awareness and pursue accountability for these violations. We stress on the need for the DPRK's regime to meaningfully cooperate with UN human rights bodies, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur. At the same time, we must promote a principled and sustained engagement with the DPRK on human rights and the rule of law, since these are essential foundations for any political solution. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Malta. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Australia remains deeply concerned by persistent and egregious human rights violations taking place in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. These violations are well documented by United Nations reporting, including the 2014 report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in DPRK. It is disappointing that the DPRK has done little to improve the situation of its citizens since the Commission's report, which detailed evidence of systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, forced labour, torture and the denial of fundamental freedoms. Australia unequivocally condemns these violations, which are not isolated; they are entrenched in state policy. We are disturbed that the DPRK continues to prioritise military expenditure over the wellbeing of its own people, resulting in a lack of sanitation and inadequate food, healthcare services and education, particularly for women and girls. The DPRK's concerning military cooperation with Russia which is frequently in contravention of UN Security Council resolutions, is not only destabilising for regional and global peace, but further diverts critical resources away from the welfare of North Korean people. Australia is a proud and active supporter of the multilateral human rights system. The UN is central to holding perpetrators of human rights abuses and violations to account. and advocating on behalf of vulnerable populations. Australia strongly supports the continued mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Seoul. These mechanisms play a critical role in documentation, accountability and maintaining international pressure. Australia also underscores the importance of the Universal Periodic Review as a vital tool to engage the DPRK on its human rights obligations. At the 47th session of the UPR in 2024, Australia presented six recommendations on how the DPRK could improve its human rights situation. We also supported the Republic of Korea to put the human rights situation in the DPRK on the UN Security Council agenda. to highlight the impact of the DPRK's prioritization of military, nuclear, and missile programs on the country's most vulnerable populations. We urge all UN Security Council members and the DPRK to act on the recommendations made by the Commission's 2014 report and other human rights mechanisms. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Canada.

Thank you, Mr. President. First, allow me to thank all the speakers who participated in this high-level meeting today to share their expertise and personal testimony. Your advocacy and bravery are inspiring. Like all of you, Canada remains deeply concerned about the ongoing and worsening human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Unfortunately, human rights in the DPRK have deteriorated since the landmark Commission of Inquiry report 11 years ago. Even with the DPRK's slow reopening after its near total isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still difficult to get accurate information about the situation in the country. but there is no evidence to suggest any recent improvements. From what we do know, the regime has intensified its crackdown on outside information and culture, with reports of the execution of individuals watching South Korean TV programs. Women continue to face significant hardship, including gender discrimination, sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation, particularly against those who escaped the DPRK and are forcibly repatriated back to the country. Forced labor is reportedly widespread and institutionalized, including in prisons in which detainees are compelled to work under threat of physical violence. Civil society organizations and human rights defenders are the unsung heroes, tirelessly advocating for human rights in ways that others can't or won't. They have been sharing their expertise, their knowledge, advocacy to shed light on the reality faced by North Koreans, and they deserve our support. Canada will continue to support them in Seoul, in Ottawa, in New York, and elsewhere. Canada appreciates the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the DPRK, Elizabeth Salmon, and we continue to call on Pyongyang to allow her to visit the country. Human rights violations in the DPRK are not peripheral issues. They are at the core of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. Recently, we've seen public reporting on North Koreans forced by the regime to work illegally in the global IT sector, generating funds stolen by the DPRK for its weapons programs. It has also been reported that the DPRK has sent forced laborers to prop up Russia's economy and soldiers to support its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. It is crucial that when we talk about the DPRK's illicit nuclear and ballistic missile program, sanctions evasion, forced labor, cybercrime, and support for Russia's illegal war of aggression, that we also speak about the North Korean people whose human rights are violated in the process. We must hold the DPRK accountable for contributing to global instability and for failing to promote and protect the human rights of its people and to uphold its international human rights obligations. I reiterate Canada's continued call for the DPRK to allow the return of UN agencies and other humanitarian actors to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance to the North Korean people. We also look forward to the Commission of Inquiry report update, which will help maintain international attention on human rights in the country. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Canada. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. The Islamic Republic of Iran profoundly objects the selective and politicized approach taken by this august body in addressing country-specific human rights situations. This meeting is a result of the resolution on the situation of human rights in DPRK, as contained in document 79/181, from which we and many other delegations have disassociated ourselves due to its bias and political nature. Such selective approaches and disregarding the principles of impartiality, non-selectivity and non-discrimination undermine the credibility and effectiveness of this body in promoting and protecting human rights. It is imperative that this body adheres to its founding principles to ensure fair and constructive dialogue for all Member States. My delegation is of the view that such an approach is a manifestation of double standards and selective scrutiny which can erode the trust and cooperation needed to address genuine human rights challenges. We believe human rights issues should be addressed on relevant platforms such as the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review mechanism, which is regarded as a non-discriminatory and voluntary platform.

Therefore, we urge this body to support only initiatives.

That prioritize dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect over confrontation, finger-pointing, and the weaponization of human rights. In principle, the human rights shall not be politicized or interfere with the internal affairs of other countries. We call upon member states to work together to promote and protect human rights in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. rather than using this body as a platform for pursuing narrow national interests or political agendas. Only through a genuine commitment to universality, objectivity, and non-selectivity can we hope to make meaningful progress in promoting human rights for all. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United States.

Mr. President and distinguished guests, the United States thanks the President of the General Assembly for convening this critical session. We are especially grateful to the civil society advocates and courageous North Korean escapees who have spoken today. Providing space for all voices to be heard is indispensable in a free world. The North Korean constitution purports to guarantee freedom of speech, but in reality, the North Korean government does not honor any such right. To the contrary, the DPRK government punishes any North Koreans, including children, who attempt to question the regime or access foreign media. Possession of independent information is punishable by imprisonment or even death. As numerous escapees have reported even this morning, practicing religion, even in private, is a crime with consequences that extend across generations through the DPRK's guilt by association system. The suffering of the North Korean people is not incidental. It is systemic, coordinated, methodical, and organized. The DPRK's unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programs is inextricably linked to the regime's human rights abuses, as the programs are financed through the forced labor of North Korean citizens at home and abroad. These actions threaten the United States, the region, and global peace and security. Last week, the Security Council convened a briefing on UNSCR 2474 to discuss missing persons in armed conflict, including the DPRK's abduction of civilians. To date, the DPRK still, in contravention to its humanitarian obligations, refuses to account for hundreds of thousands of abducted civilians and prisoners of war, prolonging the suffering of so many around the world. We call for the immediate resolution of the issues of abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war, as well as the issue of separated families. We are deeply concerned about the DPRK's cybercriminal networks and IT workers that target foreign companies and foreign nationals while sustaining the DPRK's systemic oppression of its people. North Korea's cybercriminal networks and IT workers target foreign nationals with ransomware, data theft, and cryptocurrency fraud, siphoning resources and ruining lives. Similarly, the DPRK cyber activities extend far beyond its territorial boundaries to censor individuals who speak the truth about the regime's egregious actions. The money earned through North Korean overseas forced labor, including in the construction, seafood, false hair products, and textile industries, underpins the DPRK's unlawful WMD and ballistic missiles development, while its citizens face starvation, repression, and isolation. The lapse in the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 Sanctions Committee has left a critical gap in reporting that allowed all UN member states to implement their obligations under DPRK-related UN Security Council resolutions, which remain in effect. We urge Member States to explore ways to fill this gap and to undertake additional actions to ensure ongoing reporting and accountability. We call upon the DPRK government to abide by its international obligations to dismantle its political prison camps and to respect the inalienable rights of all its citizens. The people of North Korea deserve support in their struggle to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms and in seeking safety from abuse and oppression. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United States. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ecuador.

Thank you, President. Ecuador welcomes the holding of this high-level meeting. pursuant to the mandate contained in resolution 79/181 adopted by the General Assembly in December 2024. In 2014, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry documented the precarious human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Ten years later, in 2024, The Secretary-General's report revealed that access to rights and the exercise of fundamental freedoms in this country were continuing to experience severe restrictions. Systematic violations of human rights break down the social fabric, and they weaken the international rule of law. And for that reason, the human rights situation in the DPRK must be addressed. All states are obligated to work in strict compliance with the provisions of international human rights instruments and to guarantee the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. For its part, the international community has the responsibility to support states in complying with these goals. Mr. President, colleagues, the issuance of laws restricting the freedom of expression, of thought, conscience and religion, laws which facilitate the use of the death penalty to punish people for the commission of petty crimes, laws that limit freedom of movement, or that facilitate torture and arbitrary detention, run counter to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. During our membership in the Security Council in 2023 and 2024, Ecuador stated that the dire situation for the people in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the systematic violations of their human rights contrasted with the diversion of enormous resources towards illicit nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs. A definitive, peaceful, diplomatic, and political solution to the situation in the Korean Peninsula is urgently needed. We must also reverse the growing trend among children who are suffering from undernourishment and malnourishment, and we must ensure that they have access to education and health care services. Ecuador would encourage pursuit of the three key pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, and development. This is essential to build fairer, more peaceful and stable societies. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ecuador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this crucial meeting and all the briefers for their insightful remarks. I deeply appreciate Ms. Kim and Ms. Kang for bravely sharing their personal and heartbreaking experiences. A decade after the Commission of Inquiry highlighted human rights violations in the DPRK, Japan is deeply concerned grave violations continue and the situation has deteriorated even further, as today's speakers have emphasized. During Japan's most recent term on the Security Council, the discussions in June last year and August 2023 on the situation in the DPRK underscores its human rights violations are also inexplicably linked with the building up of its military capabilities, including the pursuit of unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs. Essential resources are being diverted for this purpose at the expense of people's welfare, despite their significant unmet needs. Furthermore, the disregard continues by engaging in unlawful military cooperation with Russia, including through sending its soldiers to fight against Ukraine, which constitutes a clear violation of international law, including the UN Charter. and in the procurement of its weapons and ammunition. Japan strongly urges Pyongyang to take tangible measures to address serious human rights violations, cease its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs, halt its military cooperation with Moscow, and fully comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions and return to dialogue. Mr. President, I must also draw attention to a grave human rights violation, the abductions of Japanese citizens, including Ms. Yokota Megumi, who was abducted by North Korea, by North Korea agents in Niigata 47 years ago, then just 13 years old. The act of international abductions infringes on a nation's sovereignty and jeopardizes the well-being and safety of its students. The abductions issue has been unresolved for decades. The abductees have remained trapped for almost half a century, while the abductees and their families have advanced in age. Most recently, Mr. Arimoto Akihiro passed away in February at the age of 96. without being able to reunite with his daughter who was abducted by North Korea during her study in Europe in 1983. Megumi's 89-year-old mother, Yokota Sakie, has become the only living parent of the 12 abductees who are identified by the government of Japan and still have not returned to Japan. In addition, There are many other cases in which the possibility of abduction cannot be ruled out. Literally speaking, there is no time left. Japan's plight is shared by others. The COI report acknowledges individuals from Republic of Korea, China, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Lebanon, Malaysia, Romania, Singapore, and Thailand have also endured this hardship. Japan strongly urges Pyongyang to immediately return all abductees and asks for international community to unite in concerted effort to secure their return. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Equatorial Guinea.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Our statement is aligned with the statement made by the representative from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations. Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, It is an honor for me to take the floor on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea at this high-level plenary meeting in the General Assembly. We welcome this opportunity to speak in a debate which is as sensitive as this one is, namely the issue of human rights in the DPRK. Let me begin by reiterating the firm commitment of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the provisions of the UN Charter, the principles of which are sovereignty among states, sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and mutual respect. These must all be observed in all international deliberations. And yet, we note with concern the growing use of human rights as a political instrument by some international actors. These campaigns are selective in nature. They're politicized, they use double standards, and they run counter to the universal and balanced principle of human rights. They lead to mistrust, confrontation, and a dangerous breakdown in the multilateral system. The Universal Declaration on Human Rights and international norms were designed to guarantee dignity for all human beings, but today we are seeing through the use of the argument that efforts are being made in self-defense, that these fundamental human principles of international law are being violated. And this is a direct threat to stability and peace among nations. The issue of human rights arises in one way or another in almost all countries, and the human rights system of a state must be assessed from the standpoint of cooperation and dialogue and not simply by imposing unilateral condemnation. Equatorial Guinea believes that any review process must be bear in mind the voice of the affected people and the particular context of each country and absolute respect for their sovereignty. Constant interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states disguised as humanitarian concern infringes upon the dignity of nations and it distorts the legitimate mechanisms of human rights. Excellencies, in an increasingly polarized world, we must work for an international order based on equity, respect, and solidarity, promoting genuine human rights must not divide people, but rather unite them. In view of this, the government of my country stands with the people of the DPRK in defense of their sovereignty, dignity, and the principle of noninterference, which must prevail among nations. And at the same time, we call for the issue of human rights in this country to be addressed in accordance with the tenets of the United Nations Charter. Thank you very much, President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Equatorial Guinea. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China.

Mr. President, China consistently opposes the forced discussion of country-specific human rights issues without considering our country concerned, and opposes selective, politicized, and double-standard approaches to human rights. Despite DPRK's strong position, certain countries have in a selective manner forcibly pushed for GA's discussion of DPRK's human rights situation, escalating the abuse of the UN platform and turning human rights issues into a political tool to pressure the country. Such acts gravely violate the sovereignty of member states, worsen confrontation in human rights domain, and hurt the credibility of the UN in human rights work. While certain countries cry out for more attention from UN to DPRK's human rights situation, they are unrelenting in the unilateral coercive measures against the country. The UN human rights experts have repeatedly pointed out that such UCMs severely affect the people's rights to health and an adequate standard of living in DPRK. These measures are among the biggest obstacles to achieving national development goals, and their humanitarian and livelihood negative impacts cannot be ignored. This fully demonstrates that these countries care about is by no means the human rights or people's well-being in the DPRK. For these countries, the issue of human rights is nothing but a political tool to attack, smear, and pressure the DPRK. Once again, China strongly urges these countries to immediately lift the UCMs that are in violation of international law and the basic norms of international relations and stop exploiting human rights issues to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. Finally, like to point out that with regard to the individuals who enter China illegally for economic reasons, China has consistently handled these cases based on a principled position that combines domestic law, international law, and humanitarian considerations. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Belarus.

Mr. President, the Republic of Belarus has consistently favoured effective cooperation in the area of human rights based on the principles of universality, impartiality and objectiveness. To our great regret, we have to note that today's meeting is underpinned by completely different ideas. it by bias, by disdain and selectivity. We express disappointment in the ongoing trend to mix up the noble ideas of fighting for human rights with a de facto fighting against individual states using various excuses. It's clear that the decades-long sanctions inter alia through the use of illegal unilateral coercive measures imposed upon the Democratic People's Republic of Korea using human rights excuses de facto is against the rights of its citizens. We believe that the international community needs to admit that the lack of results and harm of these measures is significant and change the way that they interact with the DPRK. We need to move from accusing, depriving, and restricting to having respectful and depoliticized dialogue. We are convinced that only this way can we really expand and protect human rights. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Belarus. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Peru.

Thank you, President. I would like to thank the presidency of the General Assembly and responsible delegations of this organization for this meeting, which enables us to reflect about a specific situation where hundreds of thousands of people do not have the necessary assurances that they can exercise their fundamental freedoms and the most basic human rights. At the same time, this is a timely meeting because in today's world, many people seem to have forgotten the importance of protecting dignity and well-being for all peoples to ensure international peace and security. And states are the ones who have the primary responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights. The United Nations human rights architecture was built on the basis of states' duty to cooperate. Latin America has lived through many periods with unfathomable challenges. with regard to fundamental rights. And in fact, the first special procedures of the then UN Commission on Human Rights, both country-specific mandates and thematic mandates, were established to address specific situations happening in our region. Latin American history over the past 40 or 50 years has taught us that these special procedures should be understood not so much as a hurdle for governments, but rather as a valuable tool to contribute to the protection of human rights. At the same time, the current circumstances in our hemisphere and in other regions of the world present us with serious and many human rights challenges. Then, as now, the universal system mechanisms are key tools to contribute to addressing those challenges and ensuring reparations for victims. And that is why Peru has supported the efforts of our organization in reaffirming human rights anywhere in the world. My delegation knows firsthand the irreproachable credentials of the Human Rights Special Rapporteur, Salmon, in the GPRK, and we welcome the impartial way in which she is carrying out her mandate. Similarly, Peru agrees with the perspective Ms. Salmon has used in her reports. She takes a victim-centered approach to human rights violations. In this context, my delegation would call on all parties involved with the material mandate for this meeting to cooperate actively in the work being carried out by the Special Rapporteur. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Peru. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the Russian Federation has consistently failed to support the practice of adopting selective unilateral resolutions on human rights in individual countries. We believe this method of work to be ineffective. It does not enable the protection and expansion of human rights and only serves to heighten confrontation between states. Such resolutions are being promoted by a group of Western countries for political purposes. The real situation with human rights in the DPRK, and in any other country, is of no interest to them. For example, European countries look on indifferently and sometimes are even complicit in the deaths of thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean, and they are indifferent to bans on language use in a number of EU countries and their allies. or indifferent to persecution and bans on churches and congregations, Islamophobia, or the glorification of Nazism. However, these situations, for some reason, are not brought by Western countries for consideration by the UNGA. Today's meeting is a stark example of the ineffective use of the UN's resources during this financial crisis, since this meeting essentially is duplicatory and it tries to replace the Universal Periodic Review procedure. This works well as part of the UN Human Rights Council. This procedure, unlike today's meeting, is applicable to all, and it is fully in line with a key principle of the sovereignty equality of states. It provides an opportunity for constructive and mutually respectful dialogue in the human rights area. The DPRK, in November last year, successfully completed this procedure. All states and civil society had an opportunity to present their comments, proposals and reports. The DPRK, in turn, reported on the adoption of an amendment to dozens of laws and legislative acts in the area of human rights. This has led to improvements in its legal system and has helped to improve people's well-being and ensure the effective enjoyment of human rights. It should be pointed out that despite its limited resources, the DPRK coped well with the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it managed to overcome the aftermath of the devastating floods in the northwestern districts as a result of the torrential rains in July last year. Children were able to return to school on time. The DPRK supports free elementary, middle, and higher education. At the state level, there are measures to provide students and school pupils with everything they need free of charge. There are free school and children's meals. The DPRK has dealt with homelessness in Tallinn by building large-scale housing complexes both in the capital and in the provinces, thanks to developing agriculture using technology, the DPRK has made headway in improving its food security. The efforts of the DPRK in improving and protecting human rights are bearing fruit despite significant external challenges. There is increasing impetus to the West's stance to stifle Pyongyang's economy and to whip up the military threat and besmirch the country's leadership into a lie by introducing politicized and non-objective the resolutions of the UNGA. Along these lines, there is a lack of desire to review the parameters of the UN Security Council sanctions regime. This has long lost its relevance and no longer helps to address the issues facing the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang also has an unprecedented unilateral sanctions regime against it, and many of these sanctions affect ordinary people. The UN Security Council's Sanctions Committee barely makes basic requests regarding the provision of humanitarian assistance. We are firmly against this, which significantly prevents obstacles for the sovereignty, development, and protection of human rights in the DPRK. We can witness that, as the DPRK stated in its UPR report, It will continue to strengthen and improve its legal system in the area of human rights and will conscientiously comply with its commitments under international conventions to which it is a state party, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the CEDAW Convention as well. As regards some accusations that I've heard from a number of delegations in this hall regarding the cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. We have laid out our position. The DPRK is our close neighbor and partner. We are developing relations in every area with it. This is our sovereign right. Russia cooperates cooperation with the DPRK is in line with international law, and Moscow and Pyongyang are acting fully in line with international law, in particular the Chapter 4 of 2024 agreement. This provides for swift assistance if there is an attack on another party, and we are always going to be grateful to Pyongyang and to the DPRK for their assistance. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Switzerland.

Mr. President, Switzerland would like to thank you for convening this high-level meeting on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. We'd also like to thank the Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights and also the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK for their briefings. We particularly welcome the testimonies of the representatives from civil society. Switzerland remains concerned by serious and systematic violations of human rights and possible crimes against humanity committed in the DPRK. The list of these violations is long: arbitrary detention, torture, forced disappearance to political prisoner camps, strict control of the media, and the promulgation of laws that severely limit the freedom to research, receive, and disseminate information. and also deprivation of food, healthcare, access to water, and sanitation services. We would like to recall the DPRK's obligations to immediately bring an end to all these violations and to uphold its international obligations. We also underscore the DPRK's commitment and obligation, rather, to protect human rights of its men and women citizens. who've been repatriated and we urge all states to respect the principle of non-refoulement. The population of the DPRK has the right to live enjoying justice and dignity. The establishment of accountability is crucial to ensure that the rule of law be respected and to guarantee. the rights of victims. This requires criminal prosecution, reparation and also non-judicial measures such as the quest for the truth and institutional reforms. Everything needs to place victims at the heart of these processes. We would urge the DPRK to conduct investigations on these crimes in order to bring an end to impunity. For Switzerland, which for more than seven decades now has worked for peace on the Korean Peninsula, in particular as part of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission and also as the chair of the 1718 Security Council Sanctions Committee over the past two years, For Switzerland, the respect for human rights and the maintenance of peace in the region is, and beyond, these things are closely linked. Switzerland would like to reiterate that the use of UN mechanisms in the area of human rights is crucial. Here, a lack of access to the country and to reliable data makes any up-to-date evaluation of the human rights situation in the DPRK extremely difficult. This is extremely worrisome, that there is such an opaque situation. Switzerland would the DPRK to provide a standing invitation to all special rapporteurs and to authorize unhindered access to its country for international organizations. Switzerland would also encourage the DPRK to accept a large amount of the recommendations of the UPR of November 2024 and to ensure that these recommendations be implemented rapidly and effectively. Thank you very much indeed.

I thank the distinguished representative of Switzerland. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Luxembourg.

Mr. President, Luxembourg joins itself with the statement made by the European Union and would like to make the following comments in its national capacity. We welcome the decision of the President of the General Assembly to convene this high-level meeting on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. thus following up the request made by the Assembly in resolution 79/181 of December 2024. We would also like to thank all the participants of this open session, in particular those who have shared their lived experiences. Their courage and bravery is admirable, and through their testimonies, we are really able to grasp how very serious the situation is. We would urge the international community to continue to heed their voices and more systematically involve them in the decision-making processes which affect them. The most recent commission of inquiry of the UN on the DPRK in 2014 noted systemic, generalized, and serious violations of human rights. slavery, torture, political, religious, racial persecution, persecution based on sexual belonging, and forced disappearance. Sexual violence and gender-based violence is also prevalent and used as a tool of repression by the state. It is therefore crucial to include gender indicators in the early warning systems and the evaluations of the risk of atrocities. 11 years later, the situation has hardly changed. Perhaps it's even become more international, with the active implication or involvement of North Korea in the war of aggression conducted by Russia against Ukraine. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms. Sir, we welcome the fact that the Human Rights Council mandated in 2024 the updating of the Commission of Inquiry's report, and we're very much looking forward to the outcome of this work. As a member of the Council last year, we're particularly proud of having supported this resolution. It is high time to act. We would call upon all stakeholders, including members of the Security Council, to take our responsibilities as members of the international community very seriously and protect people from crimes against humanity and also to ensure that each and every person can enjoy his or her inherent inalienable rights. Thank you very much.

Distinguished representative of Luxembourg. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Panama.

Mr. President, Panama believes that human rights are the underpinning of any society's aspirations, and we reaffirm our firm commitment to the UN Charter, which establishes fundamental rights and freedoms for all human beings. We strongly believe that these guarantees are universal, indivisible, and interdependent, and that Respecting them lays the foundation for peace, security, and sustainable development. In this context, we recognize the valuable work done in the Human Rights Council and by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the DPRK. We are particularly concerned at persistent reports of human rights violations as documented by independent UN mechanisms, including the Human Rights Commission of Inquiry in the DPRK. The use of forced labor by the DPRK raises a wide range of serious human rights concerns. In particular, we are concerned with the institutionalization of this practice by using their own people as a means for producing and manufacturing war material. That matter deserves greater scrutiny by the international community. We call for a constant constructive stance aimed at peace, including compliance with Security Council resolutions to ensure regional stability and denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula. We believe that the path to a lasting solution in the Korean Peninsula requires not just respect for international law, but also a commitment to the well-being and the dignity of all North Korean citizens. We support all diplomatic efforts aimed at denuclearization, regional stability, and a tangible improvement in the human rights situation in the DPRK. Similarly, Panama joins in the call for a return for UN agency staff and other humanitarian agency staff to the DPRK so that they can address the urgent needs of the most vulnerable people. We reiterate that all States are obligated to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as to comply with the obligations they have shouldered pursuant to various international instruments. We also call for continued work to promote human rights worldwide through dialogue and joint efforts. we renew our determination to work together to ensure that the United Nations remains a strong and effective platform and a credible platform for addressing global challenges. This is an opportunity to send a clear message that the international community will not tolerate human rights violations and that the UN will continue to work to avoid threats to international peace and security, always guided by our collective desire to have a safer world for everyone. Panama reaffirms its commitment to the principle that international security must be a collective responsibility, and it must be pursued decisively by all members of the international community. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Panama. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Czechia.

Mr President, Czechia fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union, and now I'd like to add a few words in my national capacity. Following the adoption of General Assembly resolution 79/181, we have this important opportunity to gather here in the presence of human rights defenders, civil society representatives, and escapees from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to demonstrate our firm commitment to and support for the people of the DPRK. The critical findings of the 2014 Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights Violations and Abuses remain largely unaddressed. It is essential to reiterate that the government of the DPRK must tackle these long-standing issues decisively and comprehensively. The High Commissioner's long-awaited report, which will provide an update on the human rights situation in the DPRK and assess the implementation of the Commission's recommendations due in spring 2027, will be crucial for our further deliberations. Human rights are universal and intrinsic to every human being, a principle recognized by all UN member states. We remain deeply concerned about the systematic, widespread and grave human rights violations, and equally by the pervasive culture of impunity and lack of accountability that prevails in the DPRK. In this regard, we strongly urge the DPRK Government to promptly implement the recommendations made during the fourth cycle of its Universal Periodic Review. Fundamental freedoms, notably freedom of expression and freedom of movement, remain severely curtailed. We therefore urge the DPRK authorities to repeal all repressive policies and fully recognize the fundamental right of their citizens to freely leave and return to their own country. The refoulement of escapees to the DPRK is unacceptable. Returnees face torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, as well as other serious human rights violations, as confirmed by the findings of the Commission and subsequent investigations by the Office of the High Commissioner. The DPRK government must also cease putting vital resources into weapons and missile programs that breach the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to the detriment of the well-being of its people. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Czechia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Israel.

Honorable President, Israel thanks the President of the General Assembly for convening this important meeting in accordance with resolution 79/181 to address the ongoing human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. We are deeply alarmed by the persistent reports of systematic abuse, torture, extrajudicial executions, widespread sexual and gender-based violence, and the state's total control over every aspect of its citizens' lives. These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a deliberate and institutionalized policy of repression. President, the DPRK's internal oppression does not remain within its borders. It is directly linked to the regime's relentless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and the military expansion of the country. A government that silences its people, that rules through fear and violence, is the same government that diverts scarce resources to develop nuclear warheads, ballistic missiles, and other weapons. Some proliferate to the Middle East and other regions. This model, the fusion of domestic brutality with global aggression, is tragically mirrored by another regime, Iran. The Iranian regime also brutalizes its own people while pursuing a military nuclear program and spreading terror across the region. Both regimes exploit their populations to invest in weapons of mass destruction, and both defy the international community with impunity. This is not a theoretical threat. On October 7th, Israel experienced the deadliest attack on its civilians in decades. Among the weapons used by Hamas terrorists during the massacre were North Korean manufactured arms. This disturbing fact demonstrates how DPRK proliferation fuels terrorism across the globe. The same weapons built through the suffering of the North Korean people were used to murder and terrorize innocent civilians in Israel. We cannot separate human rights from global security. Where regimes repress their own people, they often export violence beyond their borders. The DPRK's partnership with other malign actors, including Iran and terrorist proxies, must not be overlooked. The international community must remain united in its call for accountability. We support the full implementation of Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 2397, and we reiterate the need for a complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the DPRK. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Israel. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua.

Mr. President, the UN General Assembly is the most representative body. As the main place for multilateral deliberations, it promotes the fundamental principles enshrined in the UN Charter, such as sovereign equality among states, noninterference in internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. In recent years, we have noted a growing manipulation by some Western countries who exploit this body to impose their political agendas against specific countries, violating the principles of the UN Charter. Under the pretext of defending human rights or democracy, Western countries promote biased resolutions and selective condemnation. They ignore realities and they undermine non-interference in internal affairs, which is a fundamental principle for international law. This practice weakens multilateralism and turns the General Assembly into an instrument for political pressure. This is counterproductive in the peaceful settlement of disputes. Clear examples are resolutions submitted against certain States, such as today's resolutions, while They ignore flagrant human rights violations committed by Western countries, particularly against national minorities and migrants. This double standard erodes the credibility of the UN and furthers geopolitical divisions rather than promoting constructive dialogue. Mr. President, Nicaragua recalls that these plenary meetings reflect the particular political interests, and they lack objectivity and impartiality. We must respect the sovereign decisions of states when it comes to mechanisms and models for ensuring human rights in accordance with their national specificities. Nicaragua continues to denounce politicization, double standards, and the manipulation of human rights to justify any type of measures or acts of aggression against sovereign states. Mr. President, we reaffirm our commitment to the promotion and protection of all human rights on an equal footing with mutual respect, and we reiterate our firm opposition to their use for political purposes. We call for full respect for sovereignty, self-determination, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs of the DPRK. Mutual respect, solidarity, and bolstered multilateralism are essential for the genuine spirit of the General Assembly, a forum where all nations, without coercion or manipulation, can debate on an equal footing. The international community must reject these unilateral and discriminatory actions, which violate the UN Charter and only exacerbate global tensions. Genuine respect for inclusive multilateralism and sovereignty of peoples will guarantee international peace and stability. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nicaragua. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ukraine.

President, Ukraine thanks Assistant Secretary-General Eliza Brans-Gerris, Special Rapporteur Elizabeth Salmon, and all debriefers for their substantive presentations and impactful firsthand testimonies. Ukraine also aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union, and we would like to make the following remarks in our national capacity. We remain deeply concerned about the dire human rights situation in the DPRK. For decades, there has been no meaningful progress, nor any constructive engagement by the DPRK with the international community or relevant UN mandates. Beyond the severe domestic repression of its own people, the Pyongyang regime has expanded its destabilizing role internationally by openly supporting Russia's war of aggression against my country, Ukraine, a war marked by some of the gravest violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. This support includes the transfer of weapons to the Russian Federation, which are used to destroy civilian infrastructure and kill civilians, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. According to open-source data, the DPRK currently supplies approximately 50% of Russia's ammunition needs, including 4 million artillery shells, multiple launch rocket systems, and short-range ballistic missiles. All this in clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Furthermore, in the autumn of 2024, North Korea reportedly deployed a military contingent to support Russia, estimated at 10,000 till 12,000 soldiers. We commend the Special Rapporteur for addressing these critical issues in her latest report to the Human Rights Council, which reflects the gravity of this development. North Korean soldiers have been used by Russia as a cannon fodder. According to some testimonies from captured soldiers, their leadership kept them in the dark, not telling that they are being deployed to fight against Ukrainians. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, DPRK military losses in Russia's war have reached nearly 5,000 killed and wounded. Of the three North Korean brigades deployed, one has been completely eliminated. while the other two have suffered significant casualties. The recent public acknowledgement by dictators Putin and Kim Jong-in of DPRK troop participation in Russia's war effort marks the emergence of a dangerous axis of evil. This alliance not only contributes to the further escalation of aggression, but also poses a broader threat to international peace and security. Instead of aiding foreign wars, The DPRK should redirect its resources to address the critical needs of its own people, who continue to suffer under an oppressive regime. We call on the DPRK to immediately cease its support for Russia's war crimes in Ukraine and to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. We also urge the international community to hold the DPRK accountable for its actions, both at home and abroad. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ukraine. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Albania.

Mr. President, I thank you for convening this critical discussion and express our gratitude to Ms. Ilse Brint Skarries, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, and Ms. Elizabeth Salmon, Special Rapporteur about human rights in the Democratic Republic of Korea for their insightful briefings. Their analysis highlights the inseparable link between the human rights crisis in North Korea and the pursuit of peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and beyond. Ms. Kim, Ms. Kang, your personal stories and tireless work echo my own country's history under dictatorship, reminding us of the human cost of repression. Mr. Skahot and Mr. Chong, your organization's efforts give voice to millions silenced by the DPRK regime. Your courage and advocacy move us profoundly. You all together compel this Assembly to act. Distinguished delegates and colleagues, this discussion here in the General Assembly is a vital step to confront a situation that has deteriorated further. Over 25 million North Koreans live under a regime that perpetrates systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations. Mr. President, we remain deeply concerned regarding the human rights situation in DPRK. In recent years, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has enacted several laws that included death penalty provisions further restricting the enjoyment of the right of freedom of movement, to work, and to freedom to expression and opinion, among other rights. Surveillance has tightened, political prison camps have expanded, independent media, civil society, and religious freedom remain banned, while collective punishment, torture, and forced labor crush any opposition. Children face malnutrition, and women and girls endure trafficking and sexual violence in detention. Mr. President, given the severity and complexity of the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, accountability measures should be ensured as everyone has the right to remedy when their human rights are violated, in line with international norms and standards. Investigation and prosecution of serious crimes are indispensable, as are measures to ensure the right of victims and societies to know the truth about violations, the right of victims to reparations, and guarantees of non-recurrence of violations. In this context, we must strengthen accountability mechanisms, support Ms. Salomon's mandate, and amplify survivor voices to hold the regime accountable. Mr. President, The DPRK obsession with militarization, diverting resources to unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs in defiance of Security Council resolutions, starves its people of food, medicine, and hope. These violations fuel regional instability and mock the UN Charter. As members of this Assembly, we are bound by international law to place human rights at the core of multilateralism. Adopting a human rights-based and comprehensive approach to accountability, placing the rights and needs of victims at the center of the design and implementation of accountability processes in DPRK is crucial. Albania remains committed to work jointly with all Member States to support a future where North Koreans can enjoy freedom and human rights. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Albania. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Maldives.

Thank you, President.

I thank the President of the General Assembly for convening this high-level plenary meeting. I also thank the presenters for their valuable insights and perspectives. Each and every country has the obligations which it must fulfill for its people. The modern rule-based order requires each member state of the United Nations to adhere to a framework of rules, norms, and institutions that guarantees the rights of all persons. the multilateral system rests on the responsibilities of states and the trust between states. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as a member state of the United Nations, must be held accountable for the abuse and violation of these obligations and rights. The report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in DPRK is concerning. Systematic human rights violations and abuse and limitation cooperation within the United Nations strengthens against the entities a decade after commission of inquiries remains disheartening fact the tight control and restriction exerted over its population and the imposition of severe penalties perpetrators a culture of intimidation and fear Each sovereign and independent state has the right to its own government, but the government has the fundamental obligation to serve the interest of its people, not an act in the interest of a select few. The DPRK's declaration last year to pivot away from reunification and towards aggression, militarization strains the trust and cooperation built over the past eight decades. Modern geopolitics cannot afford to regress the strides we have painstakingly achieved. What is needed is dialogue, demilitarization and diplomacy. The Maldives recognize the efforts by the DPRK in engaging with the United Nations and its mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council. The Maldives urges the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to immediately and urgently heed the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry, Special Rapporteur, and the international human rights mechanism.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Maldives. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia.

Thank you, Mr. President. Colombia reaffirms its unwavering commitment to international human rights instruments. In current circumstances, where conflicts are taking place at a global level, multilateralism seems to be under threat, and there is a persistent need to defend multilateralism for humanity. Colombia firmly supports the work of verification mechanisms in the area of human rights, including extending the mandate of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the DPRK. Mr. President, Colombia notes with concern the persistent human rights violations in this country, which have been pointed to by a number of UN fora, forced labor, child labor, that have been reported on by the Special Rapporteur in July of 2024. Colombia also expresses its concern at the apparent worsening of the situation when it comes to guaranteeing human rights in that country. According to the recent report at the last Human Rights Council session, there has been increased restriction to information and the freedom of expression, and the unacceptable generalized use of the death sentence have been reported on by staff of the office. The DPRK seemed to accept the recommendations with regard to health, food, and education, but it did not accept the recommendations on political prisoner camps, nor the commitment the comment of the Special Rapporteur on forced labor and other activities. The work of the Special Rapporteur has shown that the obligations in accordance with international law are not being complied with. They must protect the freedom of expression, the right to life and adequate food, and the state policies seem not to be complying with these obligations. Colombia takes advantage of this opportunity to call upon States not to fail to defend human rights internationally. We must continue to seek to improve conditions so that we leave no one behind. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Mr. President, the Lao PDR reaffirms its long-standing position that issues relating to human rights should be addressed through constructive, non-confrontational, non-politicized dialogue and based on mutual respect and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. It is our firm belief that all human rights mechanisms must carry out their mandates in impartial, objective, and non-selective manner, while respecting the authoritative information provided by the concerned state. Avoiding politicization and double standards is essential in fostering trust and cooperation. which are prerequisites for tangible progress. We continue to support efforts to promote genuine dialogue and cooperation between states and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We encourage all stakeholders, including relevant UN human rights mechanisms, to provide technical assistance based on the request and consent of the state concerned in support of national efforts to strengthen institutional capacity and improve the promotion and protection of human rights. In this regard, the Lao PDR encourages the international community and all concerned parties to pursue practical avenues for constructive and meaningful dialogues with the DPRK in view of enhanced mutual understanding and cooperation in the area of human rights. Mr. President, in conclusion, my delegation reaffirms its commitment to fulfilling its international human rights obligations and to enhance cooperation with the United Nations.

And ASEAN human rights mechanisms.

We remain guided by the principles of the impartiality, transparency, objectivity, non-politicization, and constructive engagement, taking into account the diverse national circumstances and priorities of all countries in our shared effort to advance the cause of human rights. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Turkey.

Thank you, Mr. President. Upholding human rights remains a cornerstone of international peace, security, and dignity, and Turkey attached high priority to protection and promotion of these international universal values. Turkey remains deeply concerned by the ongoing human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as documented in numerous UN reports. We have constantly supported the international efforts to address this issue and co-sponsored key resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council as well as by the General Assembly's Third Committee. These resolutions reflect the serious and shared concern of the international community, reaffirm the imperative of ensuring accountability for those responsible for such violations. Turkey supports mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Office of the High Commissioner for the Human Rights Field Office in Seoul. We call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to cooperate fully with United Nations mechanism and to fulfill its international human rights obligations. We also encourage the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to adopt a cooperative approach in addressing different issues regarding its relations with the international community, such as allowing the return of UN agencies and facilitating them to carry out their mandates. Mr. President, beyond the human rights situation, we remain deeply concerned by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's continued development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions. We urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to comply fully with its international obligations and to refrain from any actions that could further heighten the tensions in the region. The promotion of human rights and complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula must remain at the core of our collective approach to establishing lasting peace and stability in the region. Turkey reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as to the objectives of the Treaty on NPT. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Turkey. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of New Zealand.

The President, New Zealand is alarmed at the appalling state of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It is critical that the international community voices our collective concern in a coordinated and sustained manner. Over 10 years since the publication of the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK, We remain gravely concerned by the DPRK regime's lack of action and the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation. We also remain deeply concerned about reports of executions, abductions, arbitrary detention, torture, and sexual violence. We join others in condemning the failure of the DPRK authorities to hold accountable those responsible for these grave human rights abuses that, in many cases, the Commission of Inquiry also found constitute crimes against humanity.

New Zealand is committed to the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.

We are particularly concerned by the DPRK's Law on Rejecting Reactionary Thought and Culture, which contains grossly disproportionate punishments, including the death penalty, for accessing information and foreign content. We urge the DPRK regime to immediately halt all public executions and abolish the death penalty in all cases. We are distressed by the prevalence of malnutrition, severe hunger, and widespread health problems in the DPRK. In particular, we are seriously concerned about the impact on the most vulnerable, including children, women, and persons with disabilities. We condemn the DPRK regime's continuing diversion of the country's scarce resources towards its development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at the expense of the well-being of its people. We reiterate calls for the DPRK regime to allow the return of the United Nations Development Programme and other international humanitarian agencies to support the basic needs of North Koreans.

We continue to urge the DPRK to engage with the recommendations of its November 2024 Universal Periodic Review. We hope that through meaningful cooperation with UN human rights mechanisms, the DPRK will engage in crucial reforms to better protect and promote the rights of its people.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of New Zealand. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Germany.

Thank you, Mr. President. Germany aligns itself with the EU statement. We are deeply concerned by the systematic, widespread, and gross human rights violations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Despite repeated calls from the international community, the human rights situation remains one of the worst in the world, affecting millions of innocent individuals. We welcome that the General Assembly considers the situation of human rights in the DPRK. When a UN Member State so flagrantly violates its international commitments, we need to act. We owe it to the United Nations. We owe it to the people of North Korea. More than 10 years After the Commission of Inquiry released its report on arbitrary detention, forced labor, executions, torture, and restrictions on freedom of expression, movement, and association, these human rights violations are still being committed. They are well documented by UN human rights mechanisms and civil society. We are particularly concerned by the enforced disappearances, the forced repatriations of North Korean escapees, as well as the inhumane treatment, including torture and forced labor. We welcome the report to the Human Rights Council from February 2025 by UN Special Rapporteur Elizabeth Salmon. In the report, she underscored how basic rights, such as access to adequate food, health, education, and water and sanitation, are persistently denied while the supply of necessities and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of North Korea remain limited. The principle of universality of human rights is a cornerstone of international human rights law, underscoring the belief that all humans deserve fundamental rights and freedoms simply by virtue of being human. Sovereignty cannot and should not be used as a shield to justify the violation of human rights. And while the DPRK uses sovereignty as a convenient justification to undermine the human rights of its own people, it also blatantly violates the sovereignty of another UN Member State through its expanded military cooperation with Russia and the ongoing transfer of material and troops in support of Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Germany continues to support the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur, and we urge the DPRK to grant her access to the country to engage further with UN mechanisms and to implement the recommendations of its November 2024 Universal Periodic Review and the Human Rights Council. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Germany. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Argentina is deeply concerned at the reports on the human rights situation in the DPRK. Available reports describe systematic violations of human rights, including kidnappings, forced disappearances, arbitrary executions, torture, starvation, and other very serious violations against the right to life, which is essential for all other rights. We are particularly concerned about allegations of violations against the rights of women and the rights of children through practices such as forced abortion and infanticide, according to the most recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the DPRK, Ms. Elizabeth Salmon. In addition to these violations, there are severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, such as the freedom of thought, expression, and religion. These forms of repression, which undermine the human spirit, are equally intolerable, and they are a serious affront to human dignity. For these reasons, Argentina once again co-sponsored the annual resolution on this issue in the Human Rights Council in Geneva. And at the same time, we co-sponsored the joint declaration on the human rights situation in the DPRK. as well as the stakeout before accredited press at the UN in the margins of the briefing on 12 June 2024. Finally, Mr. President, Argentina believes that it is the responsibility of all Member States of the international community to continue to work to put an urgent end to the serious violations on the right to life and human dignity in the DPRK. We must exhaust all possible channels and explore new ways of achieving this common goal. As established in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. It is this brotherly duty which leads us to redouble our efforts to find a solution to this scourge. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Argentina. We have heard the last speaker in the plenary segment. And with your thanks to the secretariat and the interpreters for their flexibility, the high-level plenary meeting to address the human rights abuses and violations being committed in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is now concluded. The meeting is adjourned.