DPRK rejects UN human rights resolution

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday strongly denounced the UN resolution on human rights in the country and indicated it might conduct a new nuclear test to counter "US hostile policy" toward Pyongyang.

The Third Committee of the 69th United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution, drafted by the European Union and Japan, that recommends the Security Council refer the DPRK to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

China was among the countries which voted against the resolution. "We are of the view that the UN Security Council is not the right place to discuss human rights issues, and the referral of human rights issues to the International Criminal Court is not conducive to their resolution," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press conference on Wednesday.

The resolution followed a detailed report released in February by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK. The report raised widespread concerns over abuses of human rights in the country.

The resolution is peppered with malignant accusations based on the report, which is a collection of fabrications made by "defectors" from the north, a DPRK foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by the country's official news agency KCNA.

The DPRK has clarified its willingness to conduct wide-ranging cooperation in the field of human rights and is ready to actively promote dialogue and exchange on the issue, but the "hostile forces" finally chose confrontation rather than cooperation, the statement said.

Pyongyang also warned in the statement that it is compelled by US hostility "not to exercise restraint any longer in conducting a new nuclear test" and that its "war deterrence will grow stronger" to cope with US interventions.