The European Union has submitted a new resolution criticizing North Korea's human rights practices.

On behalf of 37 countries, the EU presented the resolution to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on Wednesday. The statement calls for appointing a special UN investigator for the first time to go to the reclusive, Stalinist country.

It was the second year in a row that the EU had presented a resolution on North Korea at the annual six-week session. Last year, the UN forum issued its first ever condemnation of alleged human rights violations in the North.

An EU diplomat says the new resolution is stronger than last year's. There was no immediate comment from North Korea's observer delegation at the talks.