Archive · 12 Nov 2025
South Korea to Co-Sponsor UN Resolution on North Korea Human Rights
Imagine the United Nations is like a big meeting for countries to talk about important world problems.
One problem is how people are treated in North Korea.
The UN has a special paper, called a resolution, that talks about these problems.
South Korea used to not sign this paper for a few years because they worried it would upset North Korea and make it harder to talk to them.
But now, South Korea has decided to sign it again.
They believe it's really important to help the people in North Korea have better lives and that working with other countries is the best way to do it.
North Korea says that the UN is just trying to pick a fight and that everything is fine in their country, but a UN report says things have actually gotten worse.
South Korea has announced it will co-sponsor an annual UN resolution focused on North Korea's human rights.
This marks a return to co-sponsorship after a period of not supporting the resolution between 2019 and 2022.
The decision was made to uphold the principle of improving human rights in North Korea through international cooperation.
North Korea has previously condemned such resolutions, labeling them as politically motivated attacks.
A recent UN report indicated that the human rights situation in North Korea has worsened over the past decade.
- Who
- South Korea's government
- What
- Will co-sponsor an annual UN resolution addressing concerns over North Korea's human rights situation.
- When
- Announced on Wednesday (referring to the date of the article publication). The resolution is annual, and South Korea resumed co-sponsorship in 2023.
- Where
- United Nations (resolution) and Seoul (announcement)
- Why
- The South Korean government believes it is important to improve the human rights of North Koreans and to cooperate with the international community to achieve this.
South Korea's Stance
North Korea's Stance
Human Rights in North Korea
South Korea's Stance
South Korea believes it's important to improve the human rights of North Koreans and will cooperate with the international community to achieve this. They will co-sponsor the UN resolution.
North Korea's Stance
North Korea denies abuses, accusing the UN and foreign countries of using human rights as a political weapon to attack the country, and depicts itself as a 'socialist utopia'.
South Korea's Support for the Resolution
South Korea's Stance
Seoul rejoined as a co-sponsor in 2023 under conservative ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, and will continue to co-sponsor the resolution under the current administration. This is seen as taking a principled stance on grave human rights violations.
North Korea's Stance
North Korea's past actions and condemnations suggest it would view South Korea's co-sponsorship negatively, as it has previously denounced the resolution.
- South Korea's Previous Stance
- Did not support UN resolutions on North Korea human rights from 2019-2022.
- South Korea's Current Stance
- Will co-sponsor the annual UN resolution on North Korea human rights.
- Reason for Previous Non-Support
- Fears of negative impact on inter-Korean relations under former President Moon Jae-in.
- Reason for Current Support
- Belief that improving North Korean human rights is important and requires international cooperation.
- North Korea's Reaction
- Denounces the resolution and accusations of abuses, calling them politically motivated attacks.
- UN Human Rights Office Report (September)
- Overall human rights situation in North Korea has not improved, and in many cases has degraded, with political prison camps operating and freedoms weakened.