The United Nations General Assembly's Third Committee, which handles humanitarian issues, on Nov. 20 in New York adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights issues. The resolution was jointly proposed by 61 countries including South Korea and passed without a separate vote. (Yonhap News)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

For the 20th consecutive year, the United Nations (U.N.) Human Rights Committee has adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's human rights violations.

The 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly's Third Committee, which handles humanitarian issues, in a meeting on Nov. 20 in New York passed the resolution through a consensus and without a separate vote. It was jointly proposed by 61 countries including South Korea.

The Third Committee said Pyeongyang finances its illegal nuclear and missile programs through human rights violations and abuses such as forced labor.

For the first time, the resolution expressed "concern" over the North's declaration in January of no longer pursuing reunification of the Korean Peninsula, citing its potential negative effect on the North's human rights issues including families separated during the Korean War.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul welcomed the adoption of the resolution in a written comment.

"We appreciate how the international community expressed concern over the serious human rights situation in North Korea through this resolution, as well as sending a consistent and unified message to urge the North to act to improve the situation," the spokesperson added.

The resolution will be sent to the General Assembly's plenary session next month for a final vote.

dusrud21@korea.kr