UN's Ongoing Struggle: Human Rights Abuses in North Korea Unveiled

A decade has passed since a landmark UN report accused North Korea of crimes against humanity, yet abuses persist. According to James Heenan, a UN official investigating rights in the country, COVID-era controls have further aggravated the situation.

Heenan, representing the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Seoul, expressed surprise at the unwavering presence of executions, forced labor, and reports of starvation in the authoritarian state. A forthcoming report from Heenan's team will revisit the 2014 Commission of Inquiry's findings, which denounced North Korea for 'systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations.'

A recent Reuters investigation revealed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's efforts to bolster border security during the COVID pandemic, further restricting freedoms. Meanwhile, satellite imagery indicates renovations on a prison camp, possibly reacting to global criticism. Heenan emphasized that human rights should remain central in any political dialogue concerning North Korea.

(With inputs from agencies.)