The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has adopted a resolution denouncing the human rights situation in North Korea.

The resolution, which criticizes human rights infringements in the communist state and urges improvements, passed in a 103-18 vote with 60 abstentions.

The resolution denounces North Korea for its public executions, political executions, restriction of free speech and persecution of people applying for exile.

The resolution jointly submitted by Japan and the European Union will be referred to the General Assembly for a vote.

North Korean Ambassador to the U.N. Sin Son-ho protested the move, calling the resolution erroneous. He said the bill is an all-out attack on North Korean sovereignty.