North Korea has slammed the European Union(EU) for moving to adopt a resolution to address human rights violations in the North. 

In an announcement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the North’s permanent mission to the UN criticized the EU for following what it called the United States’ hostile policy against the regime.

It called the resolution a politically-motivated provocation aimed at tarnishing the North's image and bringing  down its ideology and social system.

Pointing to what it called widespread abuses of human rights in Europe, such as racial discrimination, sexual assault and the mistreatment of immigrants, the mission said European countries should focus on self-examination rather than preaching about human rights in other nations.

The resolution, which has been submitted to the UN General Assembly Third Committee, will likely be introduced at the General Assembly by year-end.

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution condemning the North’s human rights abuses every year since 2005.