The United Nations' top official on human rights in North Korea has warned that tough UN sanctions may be affecting the rights of North Korean civilians and called for an assessment of their impact.
 
Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana presented the view in his report to the UN General Assembly's human rights committee on Thursday. 
 
In the report, Quintana said that although the sanctions are not punitive in nature, they may be having “a negative impact on vital economic sectors.”
 
The UN official pointed to several examples where sanctions may have prevented access to chemotherapy medicine and other medical supplies, and hindered shipments of wheelchairs and other items needed in North Korea.
 
He added that humanitarian organizations are having trouble finding necessary supplies and carrying out international financial transactions.
 
Quintana called for a comprehensive assessment of the sanctions to avoid unintended negative impact on human rights, saying history shows that sanctions can have a devastating effect on the civilian population.

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