A UN General Assembly committee has adopted a resolution condemning the human rights situation in North Korea for the 20th consecutive year, calling for efforts to address the issue.

The Third Committee, which handles social, humanitarian and cultural issues, adopted the resolution by consensus on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York. 

The resolution sheds light on the serious human rights situation in North Korea and calls for measures to improve it. 

This year’s resolution expressed concerns about the North’s declaration that it will not pursue reunification with South Korea and called on the country to repeal laws and cease practices that suppress freedom of thought, expression and religion.

The resolution condemned Pyongyang for continuing to divert its resources into the pursuit of unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and away from the welfare of its people.

The resolution also demanded the immediate return of all abductees, including Japanese and South Korean nationals.