Courtney R. Nemroff

Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council

U.S. Mission to the United Nations

New York, New York

November 14, 2019

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Chairperson.

The United States thanks the European Union for introducing this resolution that emphasizes the importance of accountability for human rights violations and abuses committed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The United States is proud to co-sponsor this resolution.

The human rights situation in the DPRK is egregious. The UN Commission of Inquiry’s meticulous account of the human rights violations and abuses committed by the regime continues to inform our understanding of the situation in the DPRK today. The COI details human rights violations and abuses that it describes as “systematic, widespread, and gross,” including those involving “extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence, persecution on political, religious, racial and gender groups, the forcible transfer of populations, the enforced disappearance of persons and the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation.”

With this resolution, the international community will again send a clear message to the regime in the DPRK that human rights violations and abuses must stop and that those responsible should be held accountable. We urge the government of the DPRK to demonstrate respect for human rights, honor the commitments it made as part of the Universal Periodic Review, and cooperate with the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK.

With regard to this resolution’s reference to the International Criminal Court, we addressed our concerns in a separate general statement on November 7.

Thank you, Chairperson.

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