Security Council discusses North Korean human rights for first time in 5 years | NK News
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September 25, 2026Sep 25, 2026

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Security Council discusses North Korean human rights for first time in 5 years

Experts welcome meeting but criticize UN official for not calling out China for facilitating DPRK human rights abuses

The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) held its first meeting on North Korean human rights in five years on Thursday. 

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, U.N. Special Rapporteur on DPRK human rights Elizabeth Salmon and North Korean defector Ilhyeok Kim testified about grave human rights abuses in the country during the session, while the 15 UNSC members and South Korea also delivered statements.

But experts told NK News that the meeting, while significant as the first in several years, fell short by failing to call out China for its role in facilitating North Korean human rights abuses. 

“Resuming