Chairperson of the NHRCK Welcomes the Adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK at its 80th Session
- Welcoming the Adoption of the DPRK Human Rights Resolution for the 21st Consecutive Year -
- Immediate Verification and Repatriation of South Korean POWs, Abductees, and Detainees Must Be Ensured -
Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Ahn Chang-ho) welcomes the adoption by consensus (without a vote) of the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly held in the afternoon of December 18, 2025 (local time in New York).
A total of 61 Member States, including the Republic of Korea, co-sponsored the resolution. This demonstrates the international community’s shared recognition of the gravity of the human rights situation in the DPRK.
The resolution adopted at this UN General Assembly session includes several important developments.
It calls on the DPRK authorities to immediately repatriate abductees, detainees, and South Korean prisoners of war (POWs), including the remains of the deceased, to cease forced abortions and infanticide against repatriated pregnant defectors, and to allow access by international humanitarian organizations to assess humanitarian needs.
The resolution also expresses concern over the DPRK’s excessive investment in military spending at the expense of people’s welfare, and urges the DPRK to submit its fourth periodic report to the UN Human Rights Committee.
Furthermore, the resolution welcomes the submission of the update report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (COI) and encourages UN Member States to comply with the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime) and to expand support for civil society organizations working to promote human rights in the DPRK.
As stated in the resolution, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea expresses deep concern that serious human rights violations in the DPRK have persisted for a long time, and hopes that the issues raised in the resolution will be addressed through the DPRK’s constructive cooperation with the international community.
In particular, the Commission strongly urges the DPRK authorities to cease forced abortions and infanticide against repatriated pregnant defectors and, in accordance with the Geneva Convention (III) relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949, to immediately repatriate South Korean POWs, abductees, and detainees who have yet to return home, and in cases where individuals have died, to locate and repatriate their remains.
The Commission also calls on the DPRK to fulfill its obligation to submit its fourth periodic report to the Human Rights Committee, and on neighboring countries to comply with the Trafficking Protocol to prevent human trafficking involving North Korean defectors.
The Commission further urges UN Member States, including the Republic of Korea, to restore support for civil society organizations working on DPRK human rights issues to at least previous levels, ensuring that their activities are not scaled back due to financial difficulties.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea welcomes the Korean government’s participation as a co-sponsor of this resolution, and if there is no substantial improvement in the DPRK’s human rights situation in the future, urges continued participation as a co-sponsoring state.
The Commission also notes that many South Korean nationals remain detained in the DPRK and that separated family members are aging, emphasizing the urgency of verifying the whereabouts and status of abductees, facilitating family reunions, and ensuring communication and travel between separated families.
The Commission expresses the hope that the government will take prompt humanitarian measures to alleviate their suffering.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea regards the adoption of the DPRK human rights resolution for the 21st consecutive year as a result of the international community’s continued attention and efforts toward improving the human rights situation in the DPRK.
The Commission will continue to strengthen cooperation with the international community and make every effort to promote the substantive improvement of the human rights of the North Korean people.
The Commission also hopes that, with the adoption of this resolution, South Korean society will once again reflect on the human rights situation of the North Korean people and show greater interest and effort toward its improvement.
December 19, 2025
Ahn Chang Ho
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
