The serious human rights violations being committed in the country – more commonly known as North Korea –, some of which may constitute crimes against humanity, continue to be documented by his office, the OHCHR, he added.
Military spending concerns
“I am particularly concerned about the extreme priority given to security and military investments at the expense of desperately needed social services and sustainable development in the DPRK,” Mr Türk said.
“There needs to be accountability in all its forms, including non-judicial ones, for the serious violations that have plagued the DPRK for decades,” he added.
Truth and justice efforts
At a press conference held on Wednesday in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Mr. Türk said: “I heard from fugitives who are working hard to build a new life in South Korea, but live in daily longing and fear for their loved ones in the DPRK.”
Through documentation work, the Office of Human Rights preserves and analyzes information that is essential to any truth, justice and accountability effort.
The UN Human Rights Office in Seoul is also working to ensure that the suffering of victims and their families is not erased, including through commemoration and truth-telling.
Encourage commitment
“At the same time, we are engaging with DPRK officials wherever there are opportunities, such as on the rights of people with disabilities, in relation to their participation in reviews of the UN human rights treaty bodies in Geneva,” Türk said.
“These are small but important steps towards dialogue and building trust,” he added.
At the same time, Türk said the arrival next week of a women’s soccer team from the DPRK was encouraging.
But he warned that “urgent measures are needed to find ways to exchange letters, resume contacts and family reunions, and disseminate information that will clarify the whereabouts and fate of missing and kidnapped people.”