S. Korea deplores N. Korea's publication of human rights white paper

S Korea-NK human rights

S. Korea deplores N. Korea's publication of human rights white paper

By Kim Seung-yeon

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign ministry said Tuesday it is "deplorable" that North Korea has published a white paper accusing the West of violating human rights, urging Pyongyang to "look back on itself."

The North announced the publication of the white paper on human rights Monday on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, dismissing international criticism of North Korea's egregious human rights situation.

"We find it deplorable that North Korea has published the so-called white paper on human rights. North Korea does not respect even the most basic rights," foreign ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said in a briefing.

"We express deep regrets, in particular, that North Korea is making far-fetched claims about the human rights situations in the West, including the United States, and using human rights to propagate its cause of nuclear and missile provocations," Lim said.

"On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we hope that North Korea will listen to these voices of the international community and reflect on itself," he added.

In the white paper, the North said the dignity and rights of its people are "ruthlessly being violated" in the U.S. and other Western countries. It accused the U.S. of attempting to topple the regime by taking issues with the human rights conditions.

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