Diplomat punched at UN human rights meeting

The meeting of the UN’s Human Rights Council, with some 500 delegates present,
was delayed for several minutes as a result of the scuffle.

The issue of North Koreans who have crossed into China to escape the regime
has become a major issue in South Korea in recent weeks. That been
heightened by plans by China – which insists the defectors are economic
migrants rather than victims of persecution – to repatriate around 30 North
Koreans that have been arrested in the border zone.

Human rights groups say any defectors that are returned to North Korea are
likely to end up in its extensive system of labour camps.

“The repatriation of North Korean defectors is not just a matter
concerning Korean people, but a matter of the infringement of universal
human values,” said Kim.

“It is regrettable that the Chinese authorities have not changed their
attitude, even though they know what kind of situations North Korean
defectors could face when they are sent back to the North,” he added.

In the UN meeting, the French delegate stated that “serious and massive
violations” of human rights had occurred in the North and expressed
concern “at the deteriorating human rights situation noted in the UN
expert’s report, including sending many people to prison for political
reasons.”

The EU and the United States noted their concerns, although Cuba, Zimbabwe and
Syria claimed that the report is an attempt by Western nations to undermine
North Korea.

Separately, Japan has decided to extend its sanctions against North Korea for
another year as there has been no progress in efforts to resolve the issue
of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.

The sanctions include banning all imports from North Korea and all exports to
the country.

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