UN panel blasts North Korea for building nukes while its people starve

FILE – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiles as children eat during his visit to the Pyongyang Orphanage on International Children’s Day in this undated photo, June 2, 2014. (Photo Courtesy: Reuters)

A United Nations committee condemned North Korea Tuesday for building nuclear weapons and missiles while its population starves.

The European Union and Japan co-sponsored the resolution in the human rights committee. It passed by consensus and will go the General Assembly.

It condemns the North for “diverting its resources into pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles over the welfare of its people.”

Experts believe as many as 70 percent of North Koreans do not have enough food.

The resolution also strongly criticized Pyongyang for “gross human rights violations” including torture, executions without trials and arbitrary arrests.

The resolution also demands that North Korea provide detained foreign nationals with counselor access and communication with their families.

North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Ja Song Nam attends a G-77 Ministerial Meeting at U.N. headquarters, Sept. 22, 2017. (Photo Courtesy: AP)

North Korea’s U.N. ambassador Ja Song Nam says his government “categorically rejects” the resolution, saying it is part of the “political and military confrontation, plot, and conspiracy of the United States and other hostile forces.” | via Voice of America

Popular

PBBM inaugurates P1B irrigation project in Leyte

By Sarwell Meniano | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos led the inauguration of the P1.1 billion Hibulangan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) in...

PBBM brings aid to Eastern Visayas, advances whole-of-gov’t approach

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the rollout of government assistance and development initiatives in...

PBBM: Stronger cooperation with LGUs key to reducing crime

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has emphasized the importance of stronger cooperation between the national and local...

PBBM summons French, Czech envoys over Zaldy Co’s status

By Brian Campued President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the release of fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co in the Czech Republic. According...