New York — The UN General Assembly's Third Committee on Wednesday approved a draft resolution condemning North Korea's human rights violations, including the abduction of Japanese and South Korean citizens. The resolution is expected to be formally adopted by the General Assembly later this year.

With this unanimous approval, the Third Committee has now backed similar resolutions for 20 consecutive years.

Submitted by the European Union and co-sponsored by Japan, South Korea, and others, this year's resolution expressed "grave concern at the long years of severe suffering experienced by abductees and their families as a result of their forced separation." It also called for the swift return of all abductees.

Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, rejected the resolution, asserting that human rights violations do not exist in his country and calling the resolution "a false document."

US Vetoes Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

Meanwhile, at the UN Security Council, the United States on Wednesday vetoed a resolution calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The resolution was backed by the other 14 Security Council members, including Japan. This marks the fifth time the US has vetoed a resolution on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas since last October.

As the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates, Japan and nine other non-permanent Security Council members proposed a resolution aimed at increasing the delivery of relief goods to Gaza and ensuring the continued work of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).