North Korea defended its human rights policies in a rare briefing at the United Nations, after a February report surfaced criticizing the country's "unspeakable atrocities."  Foreign ministry official Choe Myong Nam clarified that their government is not running prison camps but detention facilities, where people are rehabilitated.

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According to the report, the government is holding tens of thousands of North Koreans in prison camps allegedly violating human rights.  Myong Nam said that North Korea is still a transition society and housing and social facilities are necessary to for better living conditions.

He added that "external forces" were responsible for his country's economic situation, apparently referring to sanctions the international community has imposed on North Korea as a result of several ballistic missile tests in recent years.

The UN report cited evidences of systematic and widespread abuse in the prison camps that included starvation, forced labor, summary executions, rape, forced abortion, and other forms of undue punishment.  The controversial report added that hundreds of thousands of prisoners have died in the last half century.

Similarly, Beijing News published an article seemingly warning the international community to take necessary precaution as Pyongyang's policies of peace are "inconsistent." The article states further that the only way Kim Jong-un's government can attain reconciliation is through abandonment of its nuclear program.

Jin Qiangyi, an expert from Yanbian University, said that China is refusing to offer support, thus prompting North Korea to seek alliance with Russia, Japan, and South Korea. 

North Korea appears to be in a "charm offensive," according to UN human rights monitor Michael Kirby.  He added that it can only be a beneficial tactic if it yields respect for human rights. 

Tagsnorth korea politics, north korea human rights