The United Nations Human Rights Council has called attention to the serious disparity between human rights laws and human rights in practice in North Korea.

In a regular review of the rights situation in the North, the council urged international organizations and human rights groups to report on the real-life human rights conditions in the communist state.

Some 50 of the council’s member nations took part in the North Korea review and most of them raised concerns about child famine, separated families, severe punishment of defectors and political prison camps. In particular, they pointed to the lack of transparency with regard to human rights issues.

North Korean delegates refused to acknowledge the issues that were raised by the council members and instead blasted them for pushing what they say is an unfair resolution.

The council will adopt on Wednesday a summarized report on the discussions and will release a final recommendation on the North's human rights situation in March.