S. Korea co-sponsors U.N. resolution on N. Korean human rights

SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has co-sponsored a U.N. resolution
condemning North Korea's human rights abuses that is expected to be put to a vote
next week, officials here said Friday.
"We co-sponsored the European Union-drafted resolution submitted to the 10th
session of the U.N. Human Rights Council underway in Geneva," a foreign ministry
official said, asking not to be named.
He refused to disclose the contents of the resolution, saying the U.N. body will
soon release the documents.
"Since North Korea's human rights condition is not a matter that improves or
worsens today or tomorrow, the contents of this year's resolution is similar to
that of last year," he added.
South Korea's conservative government voted last March for the Human Right
Council resolution criticizing the dire situation in the communist state,
adopting a tougher stance on the issue after a decade of near silence from the
two previous liberal administrations.
In November, the South went further by co-sponsoring a resolution at the U.N.
General Assembly, the first time it has done so.
"A date for the vote on this year's resolution has yet to be fixed, but I think
it will take place some time next week," the official said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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