U.N. rapporteur raises concern over N. Korea food crisis, rights abuses

TOKYO, Jan. 27 Kyodo - An independent U.N. investigator on North Korea's human rights situation
Tuesday described the food shortage and rights violations in the country as
''very grim'' and called on Japan to strengthen support systems for those who
have fled the country.
U.N. special rapporteur Vitit Muntarbhorn also urged Pyongyang to ''take action
efficaciously'' to address its past abductions of Japanese and other foreign
nationals, stressing that the international community ''remains highly
unsatisfied'' with its response so far.
Muntarbhorn, speaking at a news conference to wrap up his six-day visit to
Japan, said Pyongyang has been cooperating ''a little more'' with U.N. agencies
on accepting food aid but warned that a ''very critical food shortage''
remains.
''There is attempt by the authorities to reassert control over the population
through food,'' Muntarbhorn said, adding there was a ''clamping down'' on trade
in basic food items and commodities among the public.
''The general picture is very grim and some things have gotten worse than
before,'' he added, noting that North Korea is still refusing to allow him to
visit the country and that torture in prisons, violence against women and other
human rights abuses continue to be worrying.
Urging Pyongyang to come clean on its past abductions of a dozen or more
Japanese nationals who remain missing, Muntarbhorn said, ''There is a need for
the country (North Korea) to implement what they have said and to settle
matters genuinely, transparently and credibly.''
Noting that ''key concerns'' remain with regard to the North Korean
denuclearization and abduction issues, he called for ''international
solidarity'' to impel Pyongyang to take effective measures including carrying
out an agreed investigation on the abductions, identifying the victims and
informing Japan of progress.
Muntarbhorn, on his fourth such visit to Japan as special rapporteur, extended
his ''heartfelt sympathy'' to the families of Japanese abductees who remain
missing.
In addition to meeting the families during his trip, he also paid a visit to
Niigata Prefecture where a number of abductions took place, particularly in the
late 1970s.
Muntarbhorn said he also met a few people who have fled North Korea and settled
in Japan, such as Japanese spouses of North Koreans.
''I am very pleased that there have been more openings to dialogue directly
with them,'' he said. ''It is important to provide sustainable, humane support
systems so that they can be included in society.''
Muntarbhorn welcomed recent improvements in Japan's offering of protection to
such persons and called for further assistance, especially educational,
occupational and psychological support, to enable them to integrate into
society. He also called for further efforts to help family members left behind
in North Korea to leave.
Muntarbhorn's trip to Japan, scheduled to end Wednesday, is aimed at
investigating the impact of the North's human rights situation on Japan as he
prepares a report for the U.N. Human Rights Council to be submitted by March.
He previously visited Japan in January 2008, December 2006 and February 2005.
In his report on human rights abuses in North Korea presented to the U.N.
General Assembly's third committee last October, the rapporteur outlined a
series of steps Pyongyang should take in order to improve its situation,
including ending punishment of asylum seekers and doing its utmost to solve
abduction issues.
==Kyodo