A draft resolution on North Korea’s human rights at the UN looks likely to be adopted by the body’s General Assembly this coming Thursday [EST].
There is also great possibility that
Pyongyang’s human rights track record could be referred
to the UN Security Council, expected to trigger strong opposition from the
North.
The UN General Assembly will vote on the
human rights draft resolution in New York on Thursday, according to Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Unification on Monday.
After the resolution’s adoption, speculation is that
the issue will also be brought to the Security Council to be added to its
official agenda.
With the opening of the Security Council,
member countries will decide whether to incorporate the issue into official
discussion. If any of the members oppose the idea, the matter will be put to a
vote–nine or more supporting votes will see it placed on the agenda.
Of the 15 Security Council members, two
thirds–or ten states– have officially requested the issue of North Korea’s human rights be adopted as an agenda for discussion, lending
weight the assumption that the issue will appear on the docket.
A Security Council resolution is binding,
but with China and Russia on the Council as permanent members, at the ready to
wield veto power, it is unlikely a resolution of forceful nature will be put
forward, according to speculation from within the diplomatic field.
However, the addition of the issue itself
being added to the Security Council’s agenda is
predicted to place pressure on Pyongyang, as once an item appears on the
agenda, it is customarily open for discussion at any point for three years.
Meanwhile, North Korea published a Q&A
piece on Chosun Central News Agency last Tuesday wherein it claimed, “The U.S. is pushing to get this issue adopted by the UN Security
Council to create pretext to carry out a military attack.”
With such opposition to the human rights
issue being addressed in the UN, there is the possibility that Pyongyang will
carry out another provocation. This Wednesday marks the third anniversary of
former leader Kim Jong Il’s death, interpreted as the
beginning of Kim Jong Eun’s full-fledged leadership.
Not only that, on the 23rd, The Christian Council of Korea in the South will
carry out its Aegibong Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Gimpo, an issue of
long standing contention with Pyongyang.
According to a report titled, “A Review of Kim Jong Eun’s Three Years in Power and Outlook,” issued
by the Ministry of Unification in the South, this full-fledged leadership may
see Pyongyang step up pressure against Seoul and launch “strong threats” on the basis of its nuclear
program.
