UN must warn N. Korea leader over possible prosecution — envoy

GENEVA: The United Nation’s special envoy for human rights in NorthKoreaurgedtheUNMonday to formally warn the country that its controversial leader and other top officials could be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.

A repor t f rom Ma r zuki Darusman, the special rapporteur for the rights situation in North Korea, echoed comments that the UN official made in Tokyo last month, when he called for Pyongyang’s leadership to be held criminally responsible for egregious abuses.

In his new report, which will be presented to the UN’s Human Rights Council on March 14, Darusman called for “an official communication” from the UN to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un abouttheprospectofinvestigations and prosecutions, and cited the possibility of pursuing cases at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

The report said the UN should adviseKim“andotherseniorleaders that they may be investigated and, if found to be responsible, held accountable for crimes against humanity committed under their leadership.”

It also called for a panel of independent experts to create a plan that ensures that perpetrators of grave international crimes are held accountable.

Darusman was involved in a major 2014 UN report which accusedNorthKorea’sgovernment of involvement in “systemic, widespread and gross human rights violations.” — AFP