A draft resolution condemning North Korea's human rights situation has been submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, without South Korea’s participation.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the European Union has submitted the draft to the 46th session of the council. It is believed to include verbiage that condemns the systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations that continue in North Korea.

Forty-three nations including the U.S., Japan, the U.K. and Australia are listed as participating countries. While South Korea has co-sponsored similar resolutions since 2009, it has stepped back since 2019 in consideration of inter-Korean affairs.

South Korea has until the resolution is adopted to add its name to the list of participating countries, but a Foreign Ministry official said the government has yet to determine its stance.