[JURIST] The United Nations Security Council [official website] on Friday strongly condemned [UN statement] the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) attempt to fire a ballistic missile in clear violation of UN resolutions. Referring to North Korea by its formal name, the Security Council renewed its commitment to “continue to closely monitor the situation [in the DPRK] and take further significant measures in line with the Council’s previously expressed determination.” Those determinations come in the form of a host of prior resolutions [sanctions committee backgrounder] seeking to limit the nation’s tactical capabilities, including an export ban and asset freeze applied in March.

North Korea has been UN radar over the past few months over both its missile tests and its human rights violations. In March, North Korea defied UN and US sanctions [JURIST report] by firing a medium-range ballistic missile into the sea. In February, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon condemned [JURIST report] North Korea for violating international obligations after another missile launch was conducted. In January the US House of Representatives approved [JURIST report] legislation that would increase sanctions against North Korea for its continuation of nuclear testing. In November Japan and the EU circulated [JURIST report] a draft UN resolution condemning North Korea’s human rights abuses and encouraging the UN Security Council to refer the country to the International Criminal Court, noting reports of torture, limits on freedom of mobility, restrictions on freedom of speech, restrictions on freedom of religion, privacy infringement, arbitrary imprisonment, prison camps and more. The year before, the UN Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman said that there is enough evidence to hold Kim Jong-un responsible [JURIST report] for “massive” human rights atrocities committed in the country.