The government will support extending the term of the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea.

A Seoul official says the U.N. Human Rights Council is likely to vote on a resolution on extending the envoy's term this Thursday or Friday.

The resolution also calls on North Korea to improve its rights conditions, which may trigger protest from the North.

But the official says the bill mainly involves procedure for the term extension. The official added that the bill differs from the U.N. General Assembly's resolution on assessing and enhancing North Korea's rights situation.

In a council meeting early this month, Seoul urged Pyongyang to take appropriate action amid global concern over its rights conditions. The North responded by blasting the remark as "irresponsible," warning that Seoul is accountable for its negative effects on inter-Korean ties.