Uploaded February 2016 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
On Monday, February 15th, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, Marzuki Darusman, issued a warning to the country's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un and other senior leadership members, noting "they may be investigated, and if found to be responsible, held accountable for crimes against humanity committed under their leadership."
It's a bold statement -- and some might even say idyllic, as both China and Russia have opposed such measures in the past. Since those nations weird veto power on the United Nations Security Council, it may be unrealistic to see a referral to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
However, over the past two years, since the release of the Commission of Inquiry report on North Korean human rights abuses, the General Assembly has committed more votes towards addressing what's been termed human rights atrocities on par with Nazi era Germany, but how strong is that support and would it be enough to invoke General Assembly Resolution 377 - or the Uniting for Peace resolution - that has the power to override a Security Council veto.
To gain better insight and the current status of human rights inside the so-called Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I spoke with Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division. I kicked off our conversation by asking Mr. Robertson to comment on the likelihood of an ICC referral.
Given the recent tensions that appear to be mounting between Beijing and Pyongyang, do you think China may abstain from for voting in the UNSC or will it continue to protect Kim and the North Korean leadership? What changes, if any, do you foresee regarding human rights inside North Korea?
Please let me know. You can tweet your answers to me @Steven_G_Miller or by mailing in a reply to podcast@asianewsweekly.net.
On Monday, February 15th, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, Marzuki Darusman, issued a warning to the country's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un and other senior leadership members, noting "they may be investigated, and if found to be responsible, held accountable for crimes against humanity committed under their leadership."
It's a bold statement -- and some might even say idyllic, as both China and Russia have opposed such measures in the past. Since those nations weird veto power on the United Nations Security Council, it may be unrealistic to see a referral to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
However, over the past two years, since the release of the Commission of Inquiry report on North Korean human rights abuses, the General Assembly has committed more votes towards addressing what's been termed human rights atrocities on par with Nazi era Germany, but how strong is that support and would it be enough to invoke General Assembly Resolution 377 - or the Uniting for Peace resolution - that has the power to override a Security Council veto.
To gain better insight and the current status of human rights inside the so-called Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I spoke with Phil Robertson, Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division. I kicked off our conversation by asking Mr. Robertson to comment on the likelihood of an ICC referral.
Given the recent tensions that appear to be mounting between Beijing and Pyongyang, do you think China may abstain from for voting in the UNSC or will it continue to protect Kim and the North Korean leadership? What changes, if any, do you foresee regarding human rights inside North Korea?
Please let me know. You can tweet your answers to me @Steven_G_Miller or by mailing in a reply to podcast@asianewsweekly.net.
