HRC58 - NB8 statement - ID with the SE on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Interactive Dialogue with the SR on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

Statement delivered by Sweden on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States

19 March 2025

Mr. President,

I speak on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic States.

We thank the Special Rapporteur for her update and reaffirm our full support for her mandate.

The Nordic-Baltic States remain deeply concerned by the persistent, systemic, and widespread human rights violations in the DPRK, and extensive restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms.

We are alarmed by the humanitarian consequences of prolonged border closures, leading to increased food insecurity and severely limiting access to essential medical care, disproportionately affecting  persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children.

The continued lack of cooperation from DPRK authorities, especially their refusal to grant access to international human rights monitors, significantly hampers efforts toward accountability and justice for victims.

We urge the DPRK to cease immediately any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, including the deployment of the DPRK’s military forces to Russia and their use on the battlefield against Ukraine, as highlighted in the report. We are gravely concerned by accounts detailing human rights violations such as extrajudicial executions, severe malnutrition, and retaliation towards family members.

Madam Special Rapporteur,

Considering restrictions on access to the DPRK, what practical steps could States take to ensure accountability, particularly for violations and abuses related to forced labor affecting women and children, as documented in your report?

Thank you.