UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a resolution denouncing widespread human rights violations in North Korea ranging from public executions to severe restrictions on freedom of expression, religion and assembly.
The General Assembly vote was scheduled before the announcement late Sunday that North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Il had died.
The 193-member world body urged North Korea “to immediately put an end to the systematic, widespread and grave violations.”
North Korea rejected the resolution, insisting there have been no such rights violations in the reclusive communist nation.
The resolution was approved Monday by a vote of 123-16, with 51 abstentions.