NHK, 13 March 2018– A UN representative is calling on North Korea to address human rights issues including the abductions of Japanese nationals.
The UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, Tomas Ojea Quintana, presented his report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday.
He referred to the recent inter-Korean talks and the proposed historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Special Rapporteur commended all concerned governments for joining hands in that initiative.
Quintana has stressed that human rights must remain a priority and should not be held hostage to the security situation.
Delegates from dozens of countries took part in the interactive dialogue.
Japan’s representative said the abductions should be resolved immediately, as they are a serious infringement of human rights and directly related to Japan’s sovereignty and peoples’ lives.
In the past, North Korean representatives have argued such reports, but envoys were absent on Monday.
