The United States intends to hold an informal meeting for United Nations Security Council members next week regarding human rights violations in North Korea, a move that is likely to anger Pyongyang and meet with opposition from China and Russia. The United States and Albania stated in a memo about the meeting, scheduled for next Friday, that "human rights violations and abuses in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea threaten international peace and security and are directly linked to its illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs." Albania is currently a non-permanent member of the Security Council and is co-hosting the meeting with the United States.
The 15-member Security Council has regularly discussed human rights in North Korea since 2014. However, China and Russia oppose bringing the issue up in the Council. Pyongyang denies the allegations of human rights violations and blames sanctions for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country. North Korea has been under United Nations sanctions for its missile and nuclear programs since 2006.
The North Korean mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment on next week's meeting. According to the U.S.-Albanian memo, the aim of the informal gathering is to highlight rights violations and "identify opportunities for the international community to enhance accountability." They noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government led by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un responded "with increased isolation and repression, including shoot-to-kill orders."
The memo stated: "The DPRK government has intensified its efforts to suppress basic freedoms and the free flow of information, with reports of thousands of new arrests and harsh imprisonment. Today, it is believed that there are between 80,000 and 120,000 political prisoners in North Korea."
The meeting comes amid rising international tensions. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of Kim Jong-un, threatened to turn the Pacific into a "firing range" and warned that any move to intercept North Korean test missiles would be considered a declaration of war. Pyongyang launched dozens of ballistic missiles last year, including intercontinental ballistic missiles. However, China and Russia oppose any further action by the Security Council, arguing that increasing pressure on North Korea would not be constructive. The two countries vetoed a U.S.-led effort to impose additional United Nations sanctions on North Korea in May of last year.
