S. Korea welcomes adoption of U.N. resolution against N. Korea's human rights violations

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Friday welcomed the recent adoption of a U.N. resolution condemning human rights violations in North Korea and urged the regime to immediately release South Koreans held in the country.

During its 58th session on Thursday, the U.N. Human Rights Council unanimously adopted the resolution condemning North Korea's human rights violations, marking the 23rd consecutive annual adoption of such resolutions.

"The government welcomes the adoption of the resolution by consensus," Kim In-ae, vice spokesperson for the unification ministry, said during a press briefing.

"The government is deeply concerned about the systematic and widespread human rights violations in North Korea," Kim said, urging the regime to take all necessary measures to improve the situation.

She also referred to an opinion adopted by the U.N. council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which accused North Korea of illegally holding three South Korean Christian missionaries, urging the regime to immediately and unconditionally free them.

The ministry will "work closely with the international community to achieve tangible improvements in North Korea's human rights," she added.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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