Distr.
GENERAL

E/CN.4/Sub.2/1997/43
18 August 1998


Original: ENGLISH  
 

COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Sub-Commission on Prevention of
Discrimination and Protection
of Minorities
Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 2


QUESTION OF THE VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL
FREEDOMS, INCLUDING POLICIES OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND
SEGREGATION AND OF APARTHEID, IN ALL COUNTRIES, WITH
PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO COLONIAL AND OTHER
DEPENDENT COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES: 
REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMISSION UNDER
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
RESOLUTION 8 (XXIII)



Letter dated 18 August 1997 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the
Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea to the United Nations Office in Geneva addressed
to the Chairman of the forty-ninth session of the
Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination
and Protection of Minorities



I have the honour to submit herewith a document entitled "Statement 
of the delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" and 
to ask you to kindly have it circulated as an official document of 
the forth-ninth session of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of 
Discrimination and Protection of Minorities under agenda item 2.


(Signed): Han Chang On
Chargé d'Affaires a.i.




STATEMENT OF THE DELEGATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA



The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as a party to major human 
rights instruments, has been actively participating in the discussion 
of human rights issues and contributing to the protection and 
promotion of human rights at the international level.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea ratified the human rights 
instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and 
Political Rights, without any reservation and has been respecting 
these instruments.

The initial reports on the implementation of the International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant 
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights were considered and in 
September 1997 the report on the implementation of the Convention on 
the Rights of the Child is scheduled to be considered. Periodic 
reports on the implementation of the said instruments are now under 
preparation.

Surprisingly however, a draft "resolution" designed to impair the 
sovereignty and dignity of our country has been tabled.

We categorically oppose and reject this draft.

Ours is a socialist country that fully respects human rights 
politically and legally, and thoroughly ensure them in practice. Our 
people will, therefore, not be subdued by any words or pressure of 
others. Nor will they give up their system, which they have chosen by 
themselves, adhered to and further developed.

The absurd play of presenting a draft "resolution" at the moment is 
purely motivated to serve the political aim of the hostile forces to 
isolate and stifle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

As long as the human rights instruments are abused for the political 
aim of the hostile forces to disturb and overthrow our society, we 
cannot sit idle with folded arms.

The game of adopting such "resolution" is tantamount to forcing us to 
withdraw as soon as possible from the International Covenant on Civil 
and Political Rights and other instruments to which we are a party. 
If the "resolution" is adopted by force, we do not feel it necessary 
to remain bound by these instruments any longer. Our withdrawal from 
these instruments might be another pretext for the forces hostile to 
us to isolate and stifle the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 
but for our part, it will be rather convenient not to be bound by 
these instruments.

We do not want to see the way to dialogue and cooperation being 
blocked once and for all; those who have sponsored the "resolution" 
will be held responsible for its consequences.



 
HOME | SITE MAP | SEARCH | INDEX | DOCUMENTS | TREATIES | MEETINGS | 
PRESS | STATEMENTS 




© Copyright 1996-2000 
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Geneva, Switzerland