UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The world's boldest effort yet to hold North Korea and leader Kim Jong Un accountable for alleged crimes against humanity has moved forward at the United Nations.
The U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee on Tuesday approved a resolution that urges the Security Council to refer the country's harsh human rights situation to the International Criminal Court. It next moves to the entire assembly, which must approve it before it goes to the council.
The resolution was inspired by a groundbreaking U.N. commission of inquiry report early this year that declared North Korea's human rights situation "exceeds all others in duration, intensity and horror."
The idea that their young leader could be targeted by prosecutors sent North Korean officials on a furious effort to derail the resolution.
The U.N. General Assembly's human rights committee on Tuesday approved a resolution that urges the Security Council to refer the country's harsh human rights situation to the International Criminal Court. It next moves to the entire assembly, which must approve it before it goes to the council.
The resolution was inspired by a groundbreaking U.N. commission of inquiry report early this year that declared North Korea's human rights situation "exceeds all others in duration, intensity and horror."
The idea that their young leader could be targeted by prosecutors sent North Korean officials on a furious effort to derail the resolution.