Motion for a resolution - B7-0136/2013Motion for a resolution
B7-0136/2013

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on nuclear threats and human rights in North Korea

11.3.2013 - (2013/2565(RSP))

to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure

Véronique De Keyser, Libor Rouček, George Sabin Cutaş, Ana Gomes, Richard Howitt, Liisa Jaakonsaari, Maria Eleni Koppa, David Martin on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0132/2013

Procedure : 2013/2565(RSP)
Document stages in plenary
Document selected :  
B7-0136/2013
Texts tabled :
B7-0136/2013
Debates :
Texts adopted :

B7‑0136/2013

European Parliament resolution on nuclear threats and human rights in North Korea

(2013/2565(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–   having regard to its previous resolutions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK),

–   having regard to the Foreign Affairs Council conclusions of 18 February 2013 on the DPRK,

–   having regard to the statement by Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton concerning the DPRK’s ‘satellite’ launch on 12 December 2013,

–   having regard to the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other human rights instruments,

–   having regard to the 1984 Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

–   having regard to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013),

–   having regard to the United Nations General Assembly Third Committee Resolution on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, adopted at the 64th Session on 19 November 2009,

–   having regard to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, presented on 21 February 2011,

–   having regard to the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, adopted by consensus on 19 March 2012,

–   having regard to the Universal Peer Report on the DPRK of 7 November 2009 and to the agreement with the DPRK to examine 117 recommendations of the Report of the Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Universal Periodic Review, adopted on 18 March 2010,

–   having regard to the initiative by the European Union and Japan to form a new UN Committee dealing with the monitoring of human rights abuses in the DPRK, as announced at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on 27 February 2013,

–   having regard to the condemnation in January 2013 of the human rights situation in DPRK by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay,

–   having regard to Rule 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas tensions in the Korean peninsula have increased since the DPRK launched a ‘satellite’ on 12 December 2012 using ballistic missile technology, and since it conducted a nuclear test on 12 February 2013 in defiance of the united condemnation of the international community;

B.  whereas the Council of the European Union and the UN Security Council have condemned these actions, both of which clearly violate the DPRK’s international obligations under the UN Security Council resolutions and represent a serious threat to regional and international peace and security;

C. whereas the Council of the European Union and the UN Security Council have strengthened sanctions against the DPRK after the nuclear test;

D. whereas the pursuit of the illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes constitutes a challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and risks aggravating regional tensions; whereas such tensions do not serve the DPRK’s claimed objective of improving its security;

E.  whereas the DPRK is far from achieving its stated goal of becoming a strong and prosperous nation and has instead increasingly isolated and impoverished its people through its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction;

F.  whereas the EU strongly supports the idea of a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, and considers the resumption of the Six Party Talks to be essential for peace and stability in the region;

G. whereas the DPRK has ended all non-aggression pacts with the Republic of Korea, closed its hotline with Seoul and shut their shared border point;

H. whereas the human rights situation and the humanitarian situation in the DPRK remain deeply alarming;

I.   whereas the justice system in the DPRK is subservient to the state, and the death penalty is handed down for a broad range of ‘crimes against the state’ which are periodically extended through changes in the Criminal Code, and whereas citizens, including children, are forced to attend public executions;

J.   whereas the DPRK state authorities systematically carry out extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions and disappearances;

K. whereas the DPRK Government does not allow organised political opposition, free and fair elections, free media, religious freedom or freedom of association, expression or movement;

L.  whereas large parts of the population suffer from starvation and are, to a large extent, dependent on international food aid; whereas the World Food Programme reported in September 2009 that a third of North Korean women and children are malnourished;

M. whereas tens of thousands of North Koreans have fled the country to escape widespread hunger and repression;

N. whereas no foreign journalists are allowed unrestricted access to the DPRK, and whereas, as a consequence, information from the country is scarce and usually unconfirmed; whereas the general population of the country has no access to the internet;

1.  Condemns the nuclear test and the missile activities carried out by the DPRK, and demands that it abstain from further tests, and from aggressive rhetoric and other provocative actions, by suspending all activities related to its ballistic missile programme and by abandoning, in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, its existing nuclear programmes;

2.  Urges the DPRK to re-establish its pre-existing commitments to a moratorium on missile launches, rejoin the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT);

3.  Affirms its desire for a diplomatic and political solution to the DPRK nuclear issue; calls on the DPRK to re-engage constructively with the international community and, in particular, with the members of the Six-Party Talks, in order to work towards lasting peace and security on a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and to secure, by the best means possible, a more prosperous and stable future for the DPRK;

4.  Calls on the People’s Republic of China – a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the DPRK’s main trading ally – to exert an appropriate positive influence on the DPRK and to attempt to ensure that the situation does not escalate further;

5.  Recalls the wording of the final statement of the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference expressing ‘deep concern at the catastrophic consequences of any use of nuclear weapons’ and reaffirming ‘the need for all States at all times to comply with applicable international law, including international humanitarian law’;

6.  Is deeply concerned about the extremely critical situation for human rights in the DPRK, and calls on the DPRK to ensure that its people have access to basic human rights; calls on the DPRK to engage with the EU in a meaningful dialogue on human rights;

7.  Calls on the Government of the DPRK to fulfil its obligations under the human rights instruments to which it is party, and to ensure that humanitarian organisations, independent human rights monitors and the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK have access to the country and are extended the necessary cooperation;

8.  Welcomes the initiative by the European Union and Japan to form a new UN Committee dealing with the monitoring of human rights abuses in the DPRK;

9.  Is concerned by the public executions carried out in the DPRK, and calls for a moratorium on such executions and for the abolition of the death penalty;

10. Calls on the DPRK to put an end to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, to release political prisoners and to allow its citizens to travel freely, both within and outside the country;

11. Calls on the DPRK to stop the use of torture, forced labour and imprisonment in brutal and remote prison camps on North Koreans forcibly returned to the DPRK;

12. Calls on the DPRK authorities to ensure access for all citizens to food and humanitarian assistance on the basis of need;

13. Calls on the DPRK to allow free expression and press freedom for national as well as international media, and to allow its citizens uncensored access to the internet;

14. Urges the Member States to continue to grant North Korean refugees asylum and to adopt a more systematic approach to organising EU and international protection for North Koreans fleeing the desperate situation in the DPRK; calls on the Commission to continue to support civil society organisations helping North Korean refugees and spreading free information to the DPRK;

15. Calls on the Commission to maintain existing humanitarian aid programmes, and to keep channels of communication with the DPRK open, as these aid programmes have a direct bearing on the living conditions of the country’s population;

16. Calls on the Commission, in order to meet international standards of transparency and accountability, to monitor the distribution of food aid and humanitarian assistance in North Korea rigorously;

17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the governments of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China, and the United Nations Secretary-General.