The adoption of a North Korean human

rights resolution bill, passed last month by the Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, to the U.N. Security Council’s agenda is slated

for discussion at the plenary session on the 18-19th of this month. Strong

opposition from North Korea is anticipated amid these proceedings.

On the 3rd, officials with the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs met with reporters and discussed the North Korean human rights

issue in relation with the UN Security Council’s agenda, stating, “If

there are nine or more votes, it will be included in the UN Security Council’s

agenda.”

Veto rights of permanent members do not

apply to the inclusion of items on the permanent agenda–consent from at least

nine of the 15 member countries is sufficient to add an issue to the docket.

“If the North Korean human rights issue

becomes a part of the UN Security Council’s agenda, it can be brought forward

at anytime, for the duration of three years. This will be a big step in

granting us a legal stance on the matter,” the official went on.

He went on to explain, “While the European

Union [EU] and Japan are leading the North Korean human rights draft resolution

, South Korea is participating as a partner nation in bringing forth the

agenda. Chad, the presidency of the U.N. Security Council, is in discussion

with South Korea and other member countries to discuss putting North Korean

human rights conditions on the permanent agenda.”

However, the official pointed out, “The

bill will be rejected in the event that two of the permanent members of the

Council, namely China or Russia, express their right to veto the bill, making

it much more difficult to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court

[ICC] for crimes against humanity.