HRC60: Oral statement during ID on High Commissioner’s report on human rights in the DPRK

Item 4: Interactive Dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)

Speaker: Claire Denman

Thank you, Mr President.

CSW welcomes the report of the High Commissioner on the DPRK.

Grave and widespread violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief continue in the DPRK, and any DPRK citizen who expresses an opinion or belief outside the state ideology faces severe punishment, including imprisonment, torture, and even execution under the anti-reactionary and thought law. We call on the DPRK to uphold and respect the right to freedom of religion or belief, and to release all persons currently detained in prison camps immediately and unconditionally.

We also call on China to adhere to international obligations with regards to refugees, ensuring that those who flee the DPRK are protected. Citizens who escape to China risk forcible repatriation, which contravenes China’s obligations under international refugee law. Repatriated individuals found to have had contact with Christians are known to face particularly harsh punishment.

Mr President, DPRK government backed hackers have stolen more than 1.5 billion dollars in crypto currencies this year alone. We call for greater sophisticated financial sanctions aimed at targeting and seizing digital assets, as they are being increasingly used to side-step existing sanctions and fund the Kim regime.

In closing, CSW is deeply concerned by the excessive domestic military spending and the confirmation of North Korean soldiers fighting in Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. Such actions must be condemned and greater effort must be made to block continued arms transfers by the DPRK to Russia.

We call on all members of the international community to act on the recommendations of the CoI, Special Rapporteur and the High Commissioner by referring the DPRK situation to the International Criminal Court and to ensure human rights concerns are consistently raised at every opportunity.

Thank you.