North Korean diplomats storm out of UN after spat with defectors

North Korean diplomats stormed out of a U.S.-organized event on the country’s human rights at the United Nations Thursday after they insisted on reading a statement of protest, amid shouts from defectors.

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Samantha Power, tried to quiet the diplomats at the event that featured more than 20 North Korean defectors. Power called the country’s statements “totally self-discrediting.”

The North Korean diplomats did not comment as they stormed out of the chamber following Ri Song Choi’s statement in protest of the event, even as North Korean defectors stood and shouted in their faces. North Korea has previously referred to defectors who cooperated with the inquiry as “human scum.”

Defectors stood up and shouted in Korean as Power and others called for calm and a U.N. security team assembled. An observer who speaks Korean said the shouts included “Shut up!” ”Free North Korea!” ”Down with Kim Jong Un!” and “Even animals know to wait their turn.”

A North Korean diplomat read a statement that referred to “ungrounded allegations” and “hostile policy” toward his country. As soon as the North Korean diplomat stopped his speech and the next defector stepped up, the North Korean diplomats walked out.

“They’re so rude,” Jay Jo, a North Korean defector, said later, adding that she wished that the diplomats had stayed so she could have spoken with them. The U.S. said North Korea had been informed before the event that it would have a chance to speak.

The brief chaos came minutes after U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic told the audience that North Korea had shown “new signs of engagement” on human rights issues in recent months.

But after the uproar, South Korean Ambassador Oh Joon told the crowd that “we thought there was a glimmer of hope … but the delegation of the DPRK today disappointed us. I think it’s a pity.” He was referring to the country’s official name, the “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

As the event came to a close, Power said the “true weapons of mass destruction” in North Korea was the tyranny of its government against its citizens. Power also called on countries in the region, particularly China, to stop sending North Koreans seeking asylum back into the country, which was one of the inquiry’s concerns.

[The Associated Press]

This entry was posted in China, DPRK Government, Humanitarian Aid and Relief, North Korean refugee by Grant Montgomery.