Seoul, Nov 12 (NationPress) South Korea has reaffirmed its commitment to a UN resolution that denounces North Korea's human rights abuses, as confirmed by a document released on Wednesday. This decision comes despite the administration's attempts to foster better relations with Pyongyang under the leadership of President Lee Jae Myung.

South Korea is one of the 41 UN member nations co-sponsoring this resolution, as indicated in a document circulated earlier this month, maintaining its position from the previous conservative administration that adopted a stringent stance toward the secretive regime.

Initially, there were expectations that the Lee administration, which took office in June, might ease its participation in UN initiatives criticizing North Korea's human rights record, given its focus on reducing tensions and rekindling dialogue with Pyongyang.

From 2019 to 2022, South Korea refrained from endorsing past UN resolutions while liberal President Moon Jae-in was in power, breaking away from a decade of collaboration.

This shift occurred during a vigorous effort by the Moon government to engage with North Korea, highlighted by the historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and former US President Donald Trump in 2018.

Seoul's renewed endorsement of the resolution suggests that the Lee administration has adopted a viewpoint that prioritizes North Korea's human rights concerns as a universal value.

"Our government believes it is crucial to achieve real improvements in the human rights conditions of the North Korean populace, and our support for this resolution reflects that belief," stated a foreign ministry representative.

The United States did not join the list of sponsoring nations, having exited the UN Human Rights Council under Trump's directives.

While the Lee administration continues to make overtures to Pyongyang, it remains committed to the principle of North Korea's denuclearization.

The latest UN resolution addressing North Korea's human rights will be presented at the UN Third Committee before proceeding to the General Assembly for final approval next month, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.

The resolution strongly condemns the enduring, systematic, and egregious violations of human rights in and by North Korea, including actions that may constitute crimes against humanity.

North Korea has reacted negatively to previous resolutions, labeling them a "politically driven provocation" that infringes upon its sovereignty.