UN agency urges N. Korea to immediately end human rights violations

An agency under the United Nations has urged North Korea to take immediate steps to end human rights violations.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in its latest report that it was able to observe violations of the right to food and freedom of expression in the regime, such as warrantless searches of homes.

It conducted 175 interviews with escapees from the North and victims of human rights violations, and said many of them had been put in inhumane conditions in detention facilities, where they underwent forced labor, torture and a lack of adequate food.

The report will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council at its 58th session, scheduled to be held later this month.