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             Security Council Puts N. Korean Human Rights on Agenda

   by VOA News

   The U.N. Security Council has placed North Korea's human rights
   situation on its agenda, despite opposition from Pyongyang's allies,
   China and Russia.

   Eleven of the 15 Council members voted Monday in support of putting
   North Korea on the agenda. Chad and Nigeria abstained.

   The Security Council's discussion of North Korea previously was limited
   to its nuclear weapons program, but now all aspects of humans rights in
   the reclusive country can be scrutinized.

   Last week, the U.N. General Assembly put the international spotlight on
   North Korea when it adopted a landmark resolution calling on the
   Security Council to consider referring Pyongyang to the International
   Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, as alleged in a U.N.
   inquiry report released in February.

   The U.N. Commission of Inquiry report details wide-ranging abuses in
   North Korea, including prison camps, systematic torture, starvation and
   killings comparable to Nazi-era atrocities.

   An angry North Korea refused to recognize Monday's Security Council
   meeting. It has called the dozens of people who fled the North and
   aided the Commission of Inquiry "human scum."

   It is not likely the Security Council would vote to send North Korea to
   the ICC. China, as a permanent member of the Council, could veto any
   such attempt.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/un-security-council-puts-north-korean
   -rights-on-agenda/2569793.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/un-security-council-puts-north-korean-rights-on-agenda/2569793.html