GENEVA, March 25, 2025 — In a joint statement, UN Watch intern Cole Hecker took the floor of the UN Human Rights Council to condemn North Korea for its atrocities against the Ukrainian people after joining Russia’s war of aggression.
During the address, the representative for North Korea interrupted the two-minute speech a staggering five times by invoking a procedural point of order, without any basis accusing UN Watch of speaking off-topic while failing to “observe the rules of procedure” of the Council.
After the North Korean delegate asked the Chair of the Council to “stop this intervention,” the representative from Belgium interrupted to lend support to UN Watch.
“I would request, Madam Vice President, you to allow NGO representative to finish what they have to say. Their participation in this Council is absolutely necessary,” the Belgian delegate said.
Not withstanding one more attempt by North Korea to shut down UN Watch’s address, the speech was then allowed to continue, concluding by calling for the launch of an inquiry into North Korea’s “war crimes in Ukraine.”
UN Human Rights Council Debate, March 25
UN Watch Joint Statement: Madam Vice President, we are alarmed by the grave human rights violations in North Korea, which not only target people domestically, but also now across borders— [Interrupted]
Vice-President: Point of order being requested. I give the floor then to DPRK.
North Korea: Thank you, Madam Vice-President, it is very regrettable to cast a second point of order in this session. I once again reiterate that the speaker is not adhering to the rules of procedure for use of names not recognized in the in the United Nations system.
I urge the chair to ensure that the speaker strictly observe the rules of procedure and manner by respect and dignifying the sovereign state. I thank you.
Vice-President: Thank you all the speakers of the need to adhere to official UN terminology when referring to countries. With this in mind, I give the floor back to Ingénieurs du Monde.
UN Watch Joint Statement: Thank you. DPRK has sent thousands of troops to serve as cannon fodder for the war of aggression against Ukraine. There are now North Korea made KN-23— [Interrupted]
Vice-President: I have to interrupt you, have another point of order, so I give the floor to DPRK.
North Korea: I apologize for the third point of order. Right now the speaker is talking about a topic that has nothing to do with this UPR, so we kindly ask the Chair to ensure that the speaker still observe the rules of procedure and manner by respecting and dignifying the sovereign state. I thank you.
Vice-President: Thank you. I want to say that we are currently discussing Agenda Item 6 of the Universal Periodic Review, and I would like to remind everyone that intervention should focus specifically on UPR outcome. I thank you once again, and let me give back the floor to Ingénieurs du Monde.
UN Watch Joint Statement: Thank you. DPRK’s actions violate international law and fuel war crimes and atrocities against the Ukrainian people. We recall that under UN Security Council sanctions in place since 2006, countries are banned from hosting North Korean trainers—[Interrupted]
Vice-President: Got to interrupt you again, because there’s another request for another point of order. Please go ahead DPRK.
North Korea: Madam Vice President, the speaker has not followed the request of the Chair and continues to refuse. That’s why I once again ask the chair to ensure the speaker steadily comply with the rules of the procedure or stop the intervention. I thank you.
Vice-President: Thank you, I would like to ask the speaker, once again, to contextualize on Agenda Item Six of the Universal Periodic Review. That is the normal procedure here when we are dealing with UPR.
I would like to also reiterate what I have already stated earlier, all speakers are abided to refer to official UN terminology when referring to countries as well. So let me give once again the floor to Ingénieurs du Monde.
UN Watch Joint Statement: Madam Vice President, I’m speaking on the DPRK’s transnational crimes. We recall that under UN Security Council sanctions in place since 2006 countries are banned from hosting North Korean trainers, advisers, or other officials for the purpose—[Interrupted]
Vice-President: I interrupt once more, I got a point of order from the DPRK.
North Korea: Madam Vice President, the speaker has not followed the request of the Chair and continues to refuse. Once again, I ask the Chair to ensure that speakers strictly comply with the rules of the procedure or stop this intervention. I thank you.
Vice-President: Thank you, I would like to say to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that I have clearly understood what he has stated earlier. So with that in mind, I will give back the floor for the last time to Ingénieurs du Monde to finish the statement under the understanding of what we have said earlier, related to language and related to focusing on what is at stake here at the UPR.
UN Watch Joint Statement: Madam Vice President, as several countries have recommended during the UPR, North Korea must immediately end its complicity in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. When North Korean troops fall on the battlefield in Ukraine, do they even know what they are dying for?— [Interrupted]
Vice-President: I’ll interrupt you again because we have a point of order, referring to the same theme as before. First I’ll give the floor to Belgium, who have also asked for a point of order, please go ahead.
Belgium: Madam Vice President, now since some recommendations were actually related to the points that the colleague from the NGO was raising, I would request, Madam Vice President, you to allow NGO representative to finish what they have to say.
Their participation in this Council is absolutely necessary, whether we like what they have to say or not. We have to listen to what they have to say. Their contribution is essential for an inclusive participation and for the work of this council. I thank you.
Vice-President: I give the floor to the DPRK.
North Korea: Thank you, Madam Vice President. The issue raised by the delegation is that it is not the issue of the UPR, it depends on the rules of procedure, that’s why I kindly ask the Chair for speakers to strictly observe the rules of procedure. I thank you.
Vice-President: Thank you. I would like to give back the floor to the speaker in order for him to conclude with the statement, you have the floor, Ingénieurs du Monde.
UN Watch Joint Statement: Esteemed delegates. This Council cannot remain silent as the DPRK’s brutality now extends beyond its borders.
We call on the Council to launch an inquiry into DPRK’s role in the commission of war crimes in Ukraine. This inquiry should also be mandated to report all member states that aid and abet this gross abuser of human rights. We thank you.
