Press Releases

1. The Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK on December 18 (December 17 local time) was adopted by consensus, at the Plenary Meeting of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly currently being held in New York. The resolution, co-tabled by Japan and the European Union (EU), has been adopted for 14 consecutive years.

2. Based on last year’s United Nations General Assembly resolution, the resolution this year condemns the North Korea’s gross human rights violations, and urges the North Korea to urgently take measures to end human rights violations.

3. The resolution also notes the urgency and importance of the issue of international abductions and of the immediate return of all abductees, as well as the long years of suffering experienced by abductees and their families, and expects the resolution of all issues related to the Japanese nationals, in particular the return of all abductees, to be achieved at the earliest possible date. In addition, the resolution strongly encourages the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to expedite the process for strengthening the capacity of the Office which the Human Rights Council decided in the last year’s resolution, and requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to strengthen activities including those for advocacy.

4. The adoption of the resolution by consensusdemonstrates the international community’s grave concerns about human rights violations in North Korea, including the abductions issue. Japan continues to strongly urge North Korea to sincerely accept the views of the international community expressed in this resolution and take concrete action towards the early resolution of the abductions issue and cooperation with the international community.