The government will announce its position on a U-N resolution regarding North Korea's human rights by early next week, after consultations among relevant ministries.

The U-N Commission on Human Rights will vote on the resolution in Geneva on Monday.

The country abstained from voting last year in an apparent effort not to anger North Korea at a sensitive juncture in inter-Korean dialogue and six-way nuclear talks.

A source said the government will maintain such a position and is likely to abstain from voting again unless otherwise necessary.

The European Union submitted a resolution on human rights in North Korea in 2003 and last year. The EU is set to submit a more strongly worded resolution this year.