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UN 'wants North Korean regime crimes punished' North Korean regime crimes must be punished, says UN
(about 1 hour later)
A year-long UN inquiry into rights abuses in North Korea is expected to urge punishment for systematic violations by the state. A year-long inquiry by the UN into rights abuses in North Korea has said all those accused of crimes against humanity, including leader Kim Jong-un, must face justice.
In a report due to be published, a panel of experts mandated by the UN's Human Rights Council said North Koreans had suffered "unspeakable atrocities". A panel of experts mandated by the UN's Human Rights Council said North Koreans had suffered "unspeakable atrocities".
The panel heard evidence of torture, enslavement, sexual violence, severe political repression and other crimes.The panel heard evidence of torture, enslavement, sexual violence, severe political repression and other crimes.
North Korea has rejected the report's conclusions.North Korea has rejected the report's conclusions.
The findings are expected to include recommending an inquiry by an international court or tribunal. The UN commission said leader Kim Jong-un had refused to respond to an advance copy of the report, which warned him he could be held responsible for abuses.
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the report is likely to be one of the most detailed and devastating ever published by the United Nations. "It is a report which speaks of the great wrongs that have been done to the people of North Korea and calls for attention from the international community," said Michael Kirby, chairman of the independent Commission of Inquiry, as he launched the report in Geneva.
Testimony to the panel has included an account of a woman forced to drown her own baby, children imprisoned from birth and starved, and families tortured for watching a foreign soap opera. The findings recommend an inquiry be launched by an international court or tribunal.
The full report is expected to contain hundreds of pages of further evidence of a nationwide policy of control through terror, says our correspondent. "The suffering and tears of the people of North Korea demand action, and that is the proposal," said Mr Kirby.
Testimony to the panel included an account of a woman forced to drown her own baby, children imprisoned from birth and starved, and families tortured for watching a foreign soap opera.
The full report contains hundreds of pages of further evidence of a nationwide policy of control through terror.
"In many instances, the violations of human rights found by the commission constitute crimes against humanity," said the report.
"These are not mere excesses of the state; they are essential components of a political system that has moved far from the ideals on which it claims to be founded."
The BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says the report is one of the most detailed and devastating ever published by the United Nations.
North Korea "categorically and totally rejects" the report into its human rights record, it said in a two-page statement sent to Reuters from its diplomatic mission in Geneva.North Korea "categorically and totally rejects" the report into its human rights record, it said in a two-page statement sent to Reuters from its diplomatic mission in Geneva.
"The DPRK [North Korea] once again makes it clear that the 'human rights violations' mentioned in the so-called 'report' do not exist in our country.""The DPRK [North Korea] once again makes it clear that the 'human rights violations' mentioned in the so-called 'report' do not exist in our country."
The Associated Press (AP) quoted from a leaked version of the panel's report, which accuses the regime of taking decisions aimed at maintaining its own rule "in full awareness that such decisions would exacerbate starvation and related deaths amongst much of the population".
For years, North Korean defectors have detailed harrowing accounts of life under the brutally repressive Kim dynasty.For years, North Korean defectors have detailed harrowing accounts of life under the brutally repressive Kim dynasty.
They describe how the regime keeps tens of thousands of political prisoners in camps, and divides the population up in terms of presumed loyalty to the regime.They describe how the regime keeps tens of thousands of political prisoners in camps, and divides the population up in terms of presumed loyalty to the regime.
Civilians live under a system of neighbourhood surveillance where they are encouraged to denounce each other, according to defectors.Civilians live under a system of neighbourhood surveillance where they are encouraged to denounce each other, according to defectors.
Although this information has been in the public domain for years, the panel's inquiry is the highest-profile international attempt to investigate the claims. North Korea declined to participate in the panel's investigation.Although this information has been in the public domain for years, the panel's inquiry is the highest-profile international attempt to investigate the claims. North Korea declined to participate in the panel's investigation.
Mr Kirby said there was "a very good way to answer the many charges and complaints - and that is to allow the door to be opened to allow the international community" and allow independent monitors to see the situation for themselves.
Jared Genser, an international human rights lawyer who has campaigned to stop crimes against humanity in North Korea, said the findings were both ground-breaking and unremarkable.Jared Genser, an international human rights lawyer who has campaigned to stop crimes against humanity in North Korea, said the findings were both ground-breaking and unremarkable.
"They're ground-breaking in that it's the first time that the United Nations as an institution has found that crimes against humanity are being committed against the people of North Korea," he said."They're ground-breaking in that it's the first time that the United Nations as an institution has found that crimes against humanity are being committed against the people of North Korea," he said.
"Of course, it puts a huge burden on the United Nations to then take the next set of steps."Of course, it puts a huge burden on the United Nations to then take the next set of steps.
"But of course it's also unremarkable in the sense that those of us who have worked on North Korea human rights for many, many years are aware of the sheer weight of evidence coming out of North Korea over decades now... And so the real question now is, what next?""But of course it's also unremarkable in the sense that those of us who have worked on North Korea human rights for many, many years are aware of the sheer weight of evidence coming out of North Korea over decades now... And so the real question now is, what next?"
According to AP, the document will conclude that the testimony and other information it received "merit a criminal investigation by a competent national or international organ of justice". China would be likely to block any attempt to refer the North to the International Criminal Court.
However, China would be likely to block any attempt to refer the North to the International Criminal Court.
And an ad-hoc tribunal, like those set up for Rwanda, Sierra Leone or Cambodia, would appear unlikely without co-operation from elements within the country.And an ad-hoc tribunal, like those set up for Rwanda, Sierra Leone or Cambodia, would appear unlikely without co-operation from elements within the country.
The panel will formally present its findings next month, when the Human Rights Council will decide which recommendations to support.The panel will formally present its findings next month, when the Human Rights Council will decide which recommendations to support.