The international community has long pressured North Korea via the United Nations... to address its dire human rights situation.
But, the UN Security Council has decided not to hold a meeting this year... on Pyeongyang's human rights record, raising speculation the U.S. is trying to cozy up to the regime for progress on denuclearization.
Hong Yoo has the details.
The UN Security Council meeting on North Korea's human rights record, which has been held every year since 2014, will not be held this year.
The decision comes after only 8 of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the meeting.
At least 9 members must vote in favor for the meeting to take place.
Experts say that if the U.S. had really wanted to hold the meeting, it could have
persuaded the other members diplomatically.
Instead this time, the U.S. might have not been as active as before in pushing for the meeting,... perhaps suggesting they are trying to avoid confrontation with North Korea ahead of a possible second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Last month, the North Korean Ambassador to the UN Kim Song wrote a letter to the council members saying that this meeting could "swim against the current trend" of rapprochement and "stoke confrontation".
Other experts believe that along with the change of UN Security Council members, North Korea's efforts to improve relations with South Korea and the U.S. by ceasing their missile and nuclear tests could have influenced the members' decision.
Even U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton, who is known for his hardline positions on North Korea, mentioned in an interview with U.S. radio station NPR the possibility of removing the economic sanctions on North Korea if Pyeongyang lives up to its commitments.
But there is still a chance that the meeting on North Korea's human rights record could take place according to a U.S. official.
The meeting, which was tentatively set for Monday, could be held next year because the U.S. "believe that discussions on human rights - and particularly concerning human rights abuses in North Korea are a crucial part of the maintenance of international peace and security and worthy of the UN Security Council's attention."
Hong Yoo, Arirang News.
