By Chung Min-uck

North Korea is trying to make the most of its newly established human rights body to counter South Korea's accusations about the reclusive regime's abuse of its people.

The North Korean body ㅡ the Council for South Korean Human Rights ㅡ on Saturday criticized the South's government for its "fascism-like oppression" of striking railway workers.

It called the latest police crackdown on the workers' union a "challenge to human rights, natural rights and public sentiments" of the people here.

The council's statement, carried via the state-run North Korean Central News Agency, also said the workers must "push forward the righteous fight more vigorously," urging global human rights groups and institutions to support the effort.

The first-of-its-kind, the North Korean council first came to media spotlight in October when Rep. Lee Seok-ki of the leftist Unified Progressive Party and other party members were embroiled in a high-profile treason scandal for plotting to overthrow the South Korean government.

At that time, the council's chairman published an article on North Korea's propaganda website, "Uriminzokkiri," saying the South Korean government was "witch-hunting" North Korean supporters in the South and was trying to strengthen its dictatorship.

Since then, the new body has been consistent in criticizing the South Korean government for alleged human rights violations, along with conservative civic groups for their anti-North Korea activities.

Pyongyang's active use of the council as the mouthpiece of its human rights claims is seen as an attempt to counter Seoul's frequent accusations of alleged abuses in the North, and to advance its own cause in the international community, analysts said.

They say the council is also attempting to instigate "South-South conflicts" by promoting existing differences between South Korean groups.

Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly recently adopted a resolution that urged the North's regime to release its political prisoners, and raised concerns about systematic and grave violations of North Koreans' civil, political, economic and social rights. The resolution has been adopted annually since 2005.