Together with denuclearization, human rights is one of North Korea's longstanding problems that the international society has been aiming to resolve.
And the UN is showing a united front condemning Pyeongyang's human rights violations.
Lee Ji-won has more
The United Nations' committee on human rights has adopted a resolution strongly condemning North Korea's "longstanding and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights."

The committee approved the resolution by consensus without a vote on Thursday, and the resolution is expected to pass the General Assembly in December for the 14th straight year.

It lists grave human rights violations by North Korea,... including torture, rape, public executions,... and the continuing impunity for such abuses.
The commission encouraged the UN Security Council to take appropriate measures to "ensure accountability" including referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court.
It also made an apparent reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, by calling on the council for further sanctions to "target effectively those who appear to be most responsible for human rights violations."

North Korea's UN Mission left the meeting, leaving a statement that "resolutely and totally rejects" the resolution.
It said that the North will strongly act against the opposition and pressure from hostile forces that try to disgrace the image of North Korea.

South Korea's foreign affairs ministry said Friday that it backed the consensus to adopt the resolution as part of its efforts to seriously improve North Korea's human rights issue through cooperation with the international community.
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News.