The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday condemned "the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by" North Korea in an annual resolution that Pyongyang's UN&nbsp;envoy rejected.

The resolution, sponsored by dozens of countries including the United States, was adopted by the 193-member General Assembly without a vote. Such resolutions are non-binding but can carry political weight.

North Korea's UN&nbsp;Ambassador <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-to-meet-over-north-korea-on-wednesday-at-us-request-267389">Kim Song</a> told the General Assembly that the resolution has "nothing to do with the genuine promotion and protection of human rights, as it is an impure product of political plots by hostile forces that seek to tarnish the dignity and image of the DPRK and overthrow our social system."

North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

A landmark 2014 UN&nbsp;report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chiefs - and possibly leader Kim Jong Un himself - should face justice for overseeing a state-controlled system of Nazi-style atrocities.

Then in 2016, the United States <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-calls-united-states-biden-a-rabid-dog-nearing-death-262205">angered North Korea</a> by blacklisting Kim for human rights abuses.

Earlier this month at least eight UN&nbsp;Security Council members pushed for a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-envoy-biegun-to-north-korea-were-here-you-know-how-to-reach-us-268526">meeting</a> on human rights abuses in North Korea. Pyongyang responded that it would consider such a move a "serious provocation" to which it would "respond strongly."

Diplomats said a meeting would have prompted China to call a vote to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-can-censor-ozil-but-cannot-hide-human-rights-violations-against-uighurs-pompeo-268791">stop it</a>, even though it would not have enough support.

But the United States, which is president of the Security Council for December, decided to convene a meeting that instead focused on concerns that North Korea could resume nuclear or long-range missile testing,&nbsp;suspended since 2017, because <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denuclearisation-off-negotiating-table-with-us-north-koreas-un-envoy-266892">denuclearization talks </a>between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled.

On Monday, China and Russia proposed the 15-member Council lift a ban on North Korea exporting statues, seafood and textiles, and ease restrictions on infrastructure projects and North Koreans working overseas, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters.

A US&nbsp;State Department official said on Monday that now was not the time to consider lifting UN&nbsp;sanctions on North Korea.

The United States, Britain and France have insisted that no UN&nbsp;sanctions should be lifted until North Korea takes concrete steps to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Pyongyang has been subject to UN&nbsp;sanctions because of those programs since 2006.

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday condemned "the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by" North Korea in an annual resolution that Pyongyang's UN envoy rejected.

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday condemned "the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by" North Korea in an annual resolution that Pyongyang's UN envoy rejected. The resolution, sponsored by dozens of countries including the United States, was adopted by the 193-member General Assembly without a vote. Such resolutions are non-binding but can carry political weight. North Korea's UN Ambassador Kim Song told the General Assembly that the resolution has "nothing to do with the genuine promotion and protection of human rights, as it is an impure product of political plots by hostile forces that seek to tarnish the dignity and image of the DPRK and overthrow our social system." North Korea's official name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). A landmark 2014 UN report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chiefs - and possibly leader Kim Jong Un himself - should face justice for overseeing a state-controlled system of Nazi-style atrocities. Then in 2016, the United States angered North Korea by blacklisting Kim for human rights abuses. Earlier this month at least eight UN Security Council members pushed for a meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea. Pyongyang responded that it would consider such a move a "serious provocation" to which it would "respond strongly." Diplomats said a meeting would have prompted China to call a vote to stop it, even though it would not have enough support. But the United States, which is president of the Security Council for December, decided to convene a meeting that instead focused on concerns that North Korea could resume nuclear or long-range missile testing, suspended since 2017, because denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled. On Monday, China and Russia proposed the 15-member Council lift a ban on North Korea exporting statues, seafood and textiles, and ease restrictions on infrastructure projects and North Koreans working overseas, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters. A US State Department official said on Monday that now was not the time to consider lifting UN sanctions on North Korea. The United States, Britain and France have insisted that no UN sanctions should be lifted until North Korea takes concrete steps to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Pyongyang has been subject to UN sanctions because of those programs since 2006.

UN condemns North Korea rights abuses, Pyongyang rejects resolution

North Korea stepped up its campaign on Tuesday for the United States to return a seized cargo ship belonging to Pyongyang, warning Washington that it had violated its sovereignty in a move that could affect "future developments" between the countries.

North Korea's UN Ambassador Kim Song held a rare news conference at the United Nations in New York to demand the immediate return of the ship, which the United States said earlier this month it had seized over accusations it was used for coal shipments in violation of US and UN sanctions.

"The United States should deliberate and think over the consequences its outrageous act might have on the future developments. Also, the United States must return our cargo ship without delay," Kim said. "We regard it as part of our territory where our sovereignty is fully exercised."

He said the seizure of the ship, known as the "Wise Honest," defied the spirit of a statement by US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their first meeting in Singapore in June 2018. They pledged to build new ties between their countries and work toward North Korea's denuclearization.

The US Justice Department earlier this month said the ship was seized and impounded to American Samoa. The vessel was first detained by Indonesia in April 2018.

A second meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi broke down in February. With talks on denuclearization stalled, North Korea went ahead with more weapons tests this month. The tests were seen as a protest by Kim Jong Un after Trump rejected his calls for sanctions relief at the Hanoi summit.

The UN Security Council has unanimously strengthened sanctions on North Korea since 2006 in a bid to choke funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, banning exports including coal, iron, lead, textiles and seafood, and capping imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products.

"We will carefully watch every move of the United States," said Kim.

Kim wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday to ask him to take "urgent measures" over the issue. U.N spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that the letter had been received.

"We're taking a look at it. The issue of sanctions, the implementation of sanctions, the interpretation of sanctions, is really a matter for the UN Security Council to decide and to discuss," he said.

North Korea stepped up its campaign on Tuesday for the United States to return a seized cargo ship belonging to Pyongyang, warning Washington that it had violated its sovereignty in a move that could affect "future developments" between the countries.

North Korea stepped up its campaign on Tuesday for the United States to return a seized cargo ship belonging to Pyongyang, warning Washington that it had violated its sovereignty in a move that could affect "future developments" between the countries. North Korea's UN Ambassador Kim Song held a rare news conference at the United Nations in New York to demand the immediate return of the ship, which the United States said earlier this month it had seized over accusations it was used for coal shipments in violation of US and UN sanctions. "The United States should deliberate and think over the consequences its outrageous act might have on the future developments. Also, the United States must return our cargo ship without delay," Kim said. "We regard it as part of our territory where our sovereignty is fully exercised." He said the seizure of the ship, known as the "Wise Honest," defied the spirit of a statement by US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their first meeting in Singapore in June 2018. They pledged to build new ties between their countries and work toward North Korea's denuclearization. The US Justice Department earlier this month said the ship was seized and impounded to American Samoa. The vessel was first detained by Indonesia in April 2018. A second meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un in Hanoi broke down in February. With talks on denuclearization stalled, North Korea went ahead with more weapons tests this month. The tests were seen as a protest by Kim Jong Un after Trump rejected his calls for sanctions relief at the Hanoi summit. The UN Security Council has unanimously strengthened sanctions on North Korea since 2006 in a bid to choke funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, banning exports including coal, iron, lead, textiles and seafood, and capping imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products. "We will carefully watch every move of the United States," said Kim. Kim wrote to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday to ask him to take "urgent measures" over the issue. U.N spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that the letter had been received. "We're taking a look at it. The issue of sanctions, the implementation of sanctions, the interpretation of sanctions, is really a matter for the UN Security Council to decide and to discuss," he said.

North Korea warns US over seized ship at rare UN news conference

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UN condemns North Korea rights abuses, Pyongyang rejects resolution

North Korea warns US over seized ship at rare UN news conference