Gov't welcomes U.N. resolution on N. Korean human rights

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government on Friday welcomed the U.N. Human Rights Council's adoption of a new resolution condemning North Korea's human rights situation.

"It is welcome that a North Korean human rights resolution was adopted in a UNHRC session by consensus," the government said in a commentary provided by the foreign ministry spokesman. "The government will make continued efforts together with the international community to effectively improve North Korea's human rights situation."

The government added that it evaluates highly the fact that the resolution mentioned the importance of dialogue, including one between the two Koreas, for improving the North's human rights and humanitarian situation.

The council has adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights violations every year since 2003. The new resolution, adopted at the 37th session of the UNHRC in Geneva, criticized Pyongyang for the extensive and systematic human rights violations committed in the country and urged it to admit the crimes and to punish those responsible for them.

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