A/HRC/22/57 access of humanitarian assistance that is delivered impartially on the basis of need, in accordance with humanitarian principles.”22 18. The Special Rapporteur emphasized that “the primary obligation to feed people lies with the State, which must take all measures necessary to rectify existing flaws in the production and distribution system that have contributed [to] the shortage of food.” He also called on the Government to reduce military/defence expenditure and ensure equitable reallocation of resources to respond effectively to the food crisis and other areas needing development. 23 19. The Special Rapporteur stressed that the human rights obligations of the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea are in no sense contingent on the provisions of external humanitarian assistance by the international community, but merely an impetus for emergency response.24 20. Finally, he further recognized that it is important to ensure such aid distribution reaches the neediest population and in line with the long-standing United Nations policy of “no access, no aid,” which needs to be respected by all States receiving aid. 25 B. Torture and inhuman treatment 21. General Assembly resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2012 highlighted “torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” among several systemic, widespread and grave violations of human rights in the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea. Moreover, the General Assembly made specific reference to punishments inflicted on citizens of the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea who have been repatriated from abroad, “such as treating their departure as treason, leading to punishments of internment, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or the death penalty” (emphasis added). 26 The Human Rights Council deplored “the use of torture…against political prisoners and repatriated citizens of the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea”.27 22. In 2007, the Special Rapporteur stressed that there are continuing reports of violence against the human person committed by State authorities, such as torture, public executions, and persecution of political dissidents. 28 23. In 2008, the Secretary-General expressed his serious concern at the fact that reports emanating from the country “continue to indicate trends of torture, inhumane conditions of detention, public execution, ill-treatment of refugees or asylum-seekers repatriated from abroad.”29 The same year, in his report to the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur stated that an “overhaul of the prison system is long overdue, and the harsh conditions imposed by the criminal justice system and related detention give rise to a plethora of abuses, including torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. The abuses are ubiquitous, and include degrading treatment of deceased persons.” 30 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 16 A/HRC/RES/10/16, A/HRC/RES/13/14, A/HRC/RES/16/8, A/HRC/RES/19/13 A/HRC/19/65, para 26 A/HRC/19/65, para 58 A/HRC/19/65, para 58 A/RES/60/173; A/RES/61/174; A/RES/62/167; A/RES/63/190; A/RES/64/175; A/RES/66/174 A/HRC/RES/10/16; A/HRC/RES/13/14; A/HRC/RES/16/8; A/HRC/RES/19/1 A/HRC/4/15 A/63/332; A/65/391. A/63/322, para 31