#UN official monitoring human rights in #NorthKorea, Tomas Ojea Quintana, tells #UNGA committee on Friday: "In the context of #COVID19 pandemic the need to partially lift sanctions is more compelling than ever." https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1316653807103807488">https://twitter.com/Reuters/s...

Quintana: #NorthKorea #COVID19 restrictions "happening in a context where implementation of sanctions has started to seriously affect the entire economy ... with adverse consequences, not only on humanitarian assistance, but also on the economic and social rights" of the people.

#China diplomat told #UNGA committee: "The unilateral sanctions against #DPRK have seriously harmed the human rights of DPRK and should be lifted immediately. We hope that relevant parties can stick to dialogue and consultation to push forward the process of political settlement"

In response to #China, Quintana said: "It is not only unilateral sanctions, but it& #39;s the sanctions regime of the Security Council of the United Nations, which is having a detrimental impact on human rights of the people in #NorthKorea."

#US diplomat deeply concerned by "chronic food insecurity and malnutrition shaped by government mismanagement, misappropriation and widespread corruption" in #NorthKorea and "reported use of torture, coerced abortions and infanticide following individuals forced repatriation."

In December #Russia #China proposed removing raft of #UN sanctions on #NorthKorea in a bid to encourage US, #DPRK talks. But #US, #France and #Britain said was not the time to consider sanctions relief. Russia and China did not put proposal to #UNSC vote. https://reut.rs/2Q74Ht5 ">https://reut.rs/2Q74Ht5&q...