New York: A United Nations General Assembly committee has passed a resolution addressing human rights in North Korea for the 20th consecutive year, urging the U.N. system to tackle the dire situation in a "coordinated and unified manner." This resolution, adopted by the Third Committee responsible for human rights and social affairs, highlights concerns over North Korea's recent declaration to cease pursuing reunification with South Korea, and calls for the repeal of laws that restrict freedom of thought, expression, and religion. According to Yonhap News Agency, the resolution's adoption coincides with Seoul and Washington emphasizing the need for improvement in North Korea's human rights environment, citing the oppressive political climate as a factor driving the regime's focus on weapons programs. The resolution expresses concern about the potential negative impact on human rights, including the situation of separated families, following North Korea's announcement in January 2024 that it would abandon reu nification efforts with South Korea. For the first time, the resolution explicitly mentions North Korea's public rejection of reunification as a policy goal. It also targets "all-pervasive and severe restrictions," including an "absolute monopoly" on information, enforced through laws such as the Law on Rejecting Reactionary Thought and Culture and the Youth Education Guarantee Law. The resolution urges North Korea to uphold the rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and expression, both online and offline, and to allow independent media. The resolution further criticizes the North Korean government for financing its "unlawful" nuclear weapons and missile programs through human rights abuses like forced labor. It highlights concerns over the disproportionate allocation of the North's budget to military spending, neglecting human rights such as the right to adequate food. Additionally, the resolution requests the organization of a high-level plenary meeting by the General Assembly's president t o address North Korean human rights abuses, calling for the immediate return of abductees from South Korea and Japan. South Korea's Deputy Ambassador to the U.N., Kim Sang-jin, has urged Pyongyang to take heed of the General Assembly's concerns and calls for improvement. Seoul's foreign ministry welcomed the resolution, noting the significance of unified international concern over North Korea's human rights situation. The ministry also pledged to pursue diverse efforts to improve the North's human rights, asserting that addressing this issue is crucial for peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula. Predictably, North Korean Ambassador to the U.N., Kim Song, has rejected the resolution, labeling it a "document of a political plot" designed to undermine North Korea's dignity. He criticized the resolution, introduced by the European Union with alleged U.S. influence, as unworthy of consideration due to its perceived fabrications. The resolution is set to be presented to a full General Assembly session f or approval in December. Since 2005, the committee has annually adopted this resolution to highlight human rights violations in North Korea and reinforce international pressure on Pyongyang to address these issues.