United Nations General Assembly votes to refer North Korea to ICC Thursday Dec 17,2014

 

The UN General Assembly has called for North Korea to be referred to the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity, in a landmark resolution adopted by a strong majority.

 

The non-binding measure was approved on Thursday Dec 17,2014 by a vote of 116 to 20 with 53 abstentions.

The vote followed a UN Commission of Inquiry report published in February 2014 detailing wide-ranging abuses in North Korea, including prison camps, systematic torture, starvation and killings.

 A First Vote on the resolution in a General Assembly committee in November 2014 had garnered the support of 111 countries, with 19 against and 55 abstentions.

The resolution asks the Security Council to refer North Korea to the ICC and to consider targeted sanctions against the Pyongyang leadership for the repression of its citizens.