A/HRC/42/2 wellbeing of the population, in particular children, women, elderly people and persons with disabilities. 670. China commended the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for developing and implementing a five-year national strategy for economic development and continuing to improve people’s living standards. It thanked the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s for having accepted the recommendations made by China. 671. Ethiopia recognized the positive steps taken by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in ratifying international instruments and the enactment of human rights-related laws, establishment of secondary technical schools and the nationwide telemedicine system measures. It stated that adherence to international human rights obligations could best be promoted through a continuous investment in capacity building and institutional frameworks in which the role and support of the international community was paramount. 672. Haiti welcomed the acceptance by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea of its recommendation on the establishment of closer relations with African people and persons of African descent, including by organizing cultural exchanges in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It expressed its willingness to cooperate with the authorities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in this regard. 673. The Islamic Republic of Iran encouraged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to enhance national capacity building and to develop human resources, including through training and awareness raising. It stated that the imposition of economic sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had direct adverse impacts on the efforts to protect the human rights of the Korean people, particularly the right to life, health, education and food. 674. Iraq recognized that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea accepted its recommendation regarding the ratification of core human rights conventions and the promotion of freedom of opinion and expression and the right to privacy. 675. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic commended the efforts taken by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to further strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights for its people in spite of challenges and difficulties, especially unilateral coercive measures imposed by some States. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic congratulated the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for its commitments to enhance the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities. 676. Myanmar thanked the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for accepting three recommendations made by Myanmar, regarding human right awareness raising activities, cooperation with international organizations in health, education, food security areas, and improvement of the quality of technical and vocational education and training. 677. Nepal welcomed the efforts made by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in ensuring the enjoyment of rights by women, children and persons with disabilities while taking measures for improving social services, notably in the health and education sectors. 678. The Republic of Korea, while noting with appreciation that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea accepted the recommendation concerning separated families, emphasized again that the issue of separated families was an urgent humanitarian and human rights issue. It was looking forward to additional reunions including video reunions and the exchange of video messages. 679. The Russian Federation noted with satisfaction steps taken by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for the improvement of national human rights legislation based on recommendations it had received within the context of the previous universal periodic review. It was indicative of the work by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to 101