PRESS RELEASE : The UK urges the DPRK to prioritise the well-being of its citizens over the development of its illegal weapons programmes – UK statement at the Security Council [August 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 17 August 2023.
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.
Thank you, President, and I thank High Commissioner Turk, and Special Rapporteur Salmon for their briefing. I also, like others, pay tribute to Mr Kim for his powerful testimony and I welcome the presence of the Representative of the Republic of Korea for this meeting.
President, the United Kingdom remains deeply concerned by the appalling human rights situation in the DPRK. It is clear that human rights violations remain widespread, systematic and completely lacking in accountability. So I also thank Albania, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States for bringing this issue back to the Council for the first time since 2017. Human rights in the DPRK and international peace and security are inextricably linked. The DPRK authorities divert resources from peoples’ basic economic needs toward their illegal nuclear and ballistic weapons programme. These illegal weapons are financed through forced labour, with workers sent overseas, often under modern slavery conditions. I urge all UN Member States, especially the DPRK, to fully implement resolution 2397, including on overseas workers, and end this exploitation.
The DPRK regime continues to reject UN resolutions on the situation of human rights in North Korea. It refuses to cooperate with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights or with the UN Special Rapporteur. The regime fails to acknowledge the 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry Report that concluded wide-ranging human rights violations taking place in the country may amount to “crimes against humanity”.
The United Kingdom also recognises the suffering of other nationals who have been abducted by the DPRK and we call for their return. Forced repatriations, state-sponsored abductions and enforced disappearances demand action.
We remind all Members to respect the principle of non-refoulement and not forcibly return those who have escaped the DPRK to face threats to their safety and human rights.
Colleagues, the human rights situation has not improved while the Council has remained silent.
We urge the DPRK to prioritise the well-being of its citizens over the development of its illegal weapons programmes.
We remind the DPRK that its restrictive Covid-19 measures must be proportionate, not used as a tool to further constrain the freedom of its citizens or to restrict the ability of the international community to engage with authorities in Pyongyang.
We urge them to engage in a genuine and positive spirit with the UN Special Rapporteur to bring around permanent change and improvements for the people of North Korea.
