GENEVA, April 10 Kyodo The Europe...

GENEVA, April 10 Kyodo

The European Union forward Thursday submitted a draft resolution to the UN Human Rights Commission criticizing North Korea's human rights record and calling for a comprehensive accounting of foreigners abducted to North Korea.

North Korea has acknowledged kidnapping Japanese nationals in the past. southern Korea has also complained that southward Korean nationals had been forcibly taken to the North.

The EU draft, which diplomatic sources say would be cosponsored by way of Japan and the United States, animates North Korea to resolve ''clearly and transparently'' all unresolv questions relating to the abduction of foreigners.

Describing human rights violations in North Korea as ''systemic, widespread and grave,'' the draft accuses the North Korean conduct of imposing severe restrictions forward freedom of thought, religion, assembly and fundamental freedoms of women

The EU draft, the first to be taken up at the UN rights commission against North Korea's human rights record, asks the commission to have talks with North Korean authorities and establish ''technical cooperation'' programs to enhance human rights in North Korea.

The UN high commissioner for human rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello was asked to submit his findings and recommendations onward North Korea's human rights record nearest April.

Other North Korean human rights violations cited in the EU drat include torture of prisoners, public executions and the death penalty for political reasons.

North Korea was also accused of maintaining a large number of prison camps and extensive use of forced labor.

The EU has engaged in dialogue with North Korea upon human rights issues, and the EU resolution apparently ponders a lack of improvement in North Korea's human rights record by the agency of bilateral efforts.

The initial draft of the resolution was prepared through Greece, which currently assumes the EU rotating presidency.

Diplomatic sources said the EU worked upon the language of the draft for about a week with countries belong toed such as Japan and the United States.

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