The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution urging the UN Security Council to take action against those responsible for Crimes against Humanity in North Korea and to consider targeted sanctions against them.

The Council approved the resolution by a vote of 30-6, with abstentions.

In the resolution, the UN Human Rights Council extended an investigation into human rights abuses in North Korea for one year and urged the referral of North Korea to some form of international judicial process “in order that those responsible for human rights violations, including those that may amount to crimes against humanity, are held to account.” In addition, it called on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish a “field presence” in the country in order to monitor human rights violations. 

The resolution based its call to action on the findings and recommendations of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea.

In the report of the COI, the commission wrote a letter to Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, advising him that he might be held responsible in court for crimes against humanity committed by state institutions and officials under his direct control.

Even though the International Criminal Court in The Hague would consider options for investigating North Korea, the referral could come only from the Security Council, where China holds a veto.

Source: The New York Times