Press Releases

1. Japan highly appreciates the fact that on November 20 (November 19 local time), at the Plenary Meeting of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly currently being held in New York, the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK, co-tabled by Japan and the European Union (EU), which was adopted by consensus at the Third Committee (November 15 local time), was also adopted by consensus (The resolution has been adopted for 12 consecutive years).

2. Based on last year’s United Nations General Assembly resolution reflecting the final report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights (COI) in the DPRK presented in February 2014, the resolution this year condemns the DPRK’s systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations, and urges the DPRK to urgently take measures to end all human rights violations, including the immediate return of all abductees. In addition, the resolution expresses grave concern about the impact of the DPRK’s diverting of resources to advance nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programs on the humanitarian and human rights situation of its citizens. Furthermore, the resolution encourages the United Nations Security Council to take appropriate actions, including through consideration of referral of the situation in the DPRK to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and consideration of the further development of sanctions in order to target effectively those who appear to be most responsible for human rights violations.

3. The consensus adoption of this resolution demonstrates the international community’s grave concerns about human rights violations in the DPRK, including the abductions issue. Japan strongly hopes for the early resolution of the abductions issue and continues to strongly urge the DPRK, in cooperation with the international community, to take concrete action towards this end.