A/HRC/13/13 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its sixth session from 30 November to 11 December 2009. The review of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was held at the 11th meeting on 7 December 2009. The delegation of DPRK was headed by H.E. Mr. Ri Tcheul, Ambassador and Permanent Representative DPRK Mission in Geneva. At its 16th meeting held on 9 December 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on DPRK. 2. On 7 September 2009, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of DPRK: Mexico, Norway, and South Africa. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of DPRK: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/PRK/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/PRK/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/6/PRK/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to DPRK through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the Working Group. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The delegation of DPRK stated that it appreciated this opportunity to participate in the sixth session of the Working Group.. As is known, at the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly the human rights situation of DPRK has been singled out for discussion every year out of purposes and motives irrelevant to genuine human rights, resulting in the adoption of the unjust “resolutions”. DPRK neither recognize nor accept such “resolutions”, and categorically reject them as the extreme manifestation of politicization, selectivity and double standards in the area of human rights. 6. However, DPRK has come to this session as it values the universal periodic review mechanism, which is impartially treating all United Nations Member States with different ideologies and systems, cultures and traditions. DPRK hopes that this session will serve as an excellent occasion for the international community to adopt a cooperative approach with a view to correctly understanding and impartially assessing the human rights ideas and policies DPRK people have chosen and the prevailing reality of the country. 7. DPRK has consistently maintained the principle of prioritizing human rights and honouring the United Nations Charter and the international human rights instruments. Its history has been the history of struggle to safeguard genuine human rights of its people. 3