
North Korea criticizes United States for seeking United Nations meeting on human rights
North Korea is accusing the Trump administration and some supporters of trying to “stoke confrontation” instead of promoting peace efforts by calling for a U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss human rights in the country.
North Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Kim Song said in a letter obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press that the United States and other unnamed countries “are trying to employ all possible wicked and sinister methods” to hold a council meeting on Dec. 10 and have U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet address it.
Kim sent letters to all council members except the United States urging them to vote against holding a meeting on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK, the country’s official name. He sent similar letters to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and General Assembly President Maria Espinosa Garces.
The Security Council has discussed human rights in the DPRK for the past four years. Each meeting went ahead only after a procedural vote in the 15-member council, where at least nine “yes” votes are needed to hold the session.
Earlier this month, the U.N. General Assembly’s human rights committee adopted a resolution by consensus condemning North Korea’s “longstanding and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights” and strongly urging its government to immediately end the abuses. It is certain to be approved by the 193-member assembly in December.
In October, the U.N. independent investigator on human rights in the isolated Asian nation said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s summits with the presidents of South Korea and the United States have not changed his country’s abysmal human rights record. Tomas Ojea Quintana pointed to reports of “systematic, widespread abuses” of human rights and a U.N. commission of inquiry’s findings in 2014 that possible crimes against humanity have been committed in the DPRK.
Relations between the two Koreas have improved since Kim Jong Un reached out to South Korea and the United States early this year with a vague promise to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. U.S.-North Korea talks on the North’s nuclear program haven’t produced much progress since Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump held the countries’ first summit in Singapore in June. A second summit is expected to take place next year.
Ambassador Kim’s letter recalled that “until last year, the Korean peninsula was a region where possibility of an armed conflict and a nuclear war ran higher than any other region in the world.”
“But, thanks to the peace-loving efforts of the DPRK, the atmosphere of peace and stability has recently settled down in the Korean peninsula,” he said.
“Nonetheless, to our deep surprise and regret, the Security Council is about to swim against the current trend by way of seeking to irritate a dialogue counterpart and stoke confrontation, instead of encouraging and promoting the ongoing positive developments,” the DPRK ambassador said.
Kim called the U.S. move to put the issue on the council agenda “a provocation.”
He demanded that human rights be discussed at the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, not at the Security Council, “far away from its mission and mandate for maintaining world peace and security.”

India, China hold another round of military talks to defuse LAC tensions
- The situation in the Ladakh sector remains tense and the ongoing military and diplomatic dialogue has not yielded results.

Covid-19 vaccination: Over 16 lakh inoculated in 9 days, Karnataka leads the way

In Tikamgarh district of MP, primary school converted into cow shelter
- A school teacher said more than 200 cows destroyed the kitchen garden and at least 100 plants of flowers, fruits and medicinal plant in the school premises.

Time capsule to be buried on Republic Day to mark 100 years of AMU

Delhi Police Commissioner issues circular for tractor rally
- The circular said that all officers and personnel as well as CAPF and any other force deployed for the Republic Day Parade security arrangements should be made aware and be prepared that they will be required for law and order arrangements immediately after the official celebration is over.

Delhi Traffic Police issues advisory for road movement ahead of Republic Day
- Delhi traffic police requested road users to accordingly plan their journies and avoid the route of parade and tableaux, from 4 am to 12:30 pm for their own convenience.

‘Thank you West Bengal’ tweets PM Modi as he shares video of his Kolkata visit

Gird Child Day: Leaders, eminent personalities laud contribution of daughters

Chhattisgarh police arrest man trying to sell tiger skin
- According to the FIR registered by the police, the estimated value of the tiger skin that was seized is ₹40 lakh in the international market.

Nitish Kumar wishes speedy recovery to Lalu, but won't call. Here's why

Eight CAs among 258 arrested since mid-November in GST fraud
- One CA was arrested on Saturday along with four businessmen in Jaipur for operating 25 fake firms to fraudulently avail and pass on input tax credit.

Congress slams Center over petrol, diesel price hike
- While addressing a press conference, Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken demanded an explanation of how exactly has the government spent ₹20 lakh crore that it "collected by multiple hikes in excise duty on both petrol and diesel" in last six years.

Fresh grip of chill in north, central India over next 3-4 days: IMD

Gold worth Rs4.50 crore seized at Chennai airport, 9 held

Odisha Dalit girl works as labourer to clear pending dues of engineering college
- The girl claims that the college has withheld her diploma certificate for non-payment of dues.