United Nations human rights investigators have accused North Korea's regime of committing crimes against humanity, including extermination, sexual violence, starvation and slavery.
In a report released on February 17 following a one-year investigation, a panel of experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council says North Korea's leadership deserves to be brought before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
It describes many of the crimes committed in North Korea as "essential components of a political system that has moved far from the ideals on which it claims to be founded."
Commission Chairman Michael Kirby said officials had been committing such crimes "under the effective control" of the country's leader, Kim Jong Un.
In a statement sent to Reuters news agency from its diplomatic mission in Geneva, North Korea "categorically and totally rejects" the report.
In a report released on February 17 following a one-year investigation, a panel of experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council says North Korea's leadership deserves to be brought before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
It describes many of the crimes committed in North Korea as "essential components of a political system that has moved far from the ideals on which it claims to be founded."
Commission Chairman Michael Kirby said officials had been committing such crimes "under the effective control" of the country's leader, Kim Jong Un.
In a statement sent to Reuters news agency from its diplomatic mission in Geneva, North Korea "categorically and totally rejects" the report.