A/HRC/16/58 which severely devalued money overnight and left many households, particularly those engaging in business, in economic difficulties.19 38. The poor, especially those living in urban areas, continue to be affected by soaring food prices. It is very likely that the financial and economic situation of most households has worsened after recent monetary measures taken by the Government to replace the devalued currency with a new legal tender for all transactions.20 39. The Special Rapporteur continues his call to the international community to provide humanitarian aid to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which should nevertheless not be contingent on political conditions. The humanitarian efforts should of course be coupled with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea taking strong measures to reform some of its national policies, including giving greater emphasis to humanitarian needs in its annual budget allocation and reforming the legal structure that is necessary to uphold human rights in the country. 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. The Special Rapporteur further recognizes 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. 40. During his mission, the Special Rapporteur had noted some positive aspects at the national level in the Republic of Korea in relation to its policies with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He was encouraged to see the Republic of Korea’s provision of humanitarian aid to the people of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea most recently during the floods in August 2010. The Republic of Korea’s offer of some 5,000 tons of rice and 250,000 bags of cement for victims of August 2010 floods in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was a good example of the support from Republic of Korea during the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. However, this support was put on hold due to the firing of artillery at Yeonpyeong in November 2010. D. Cooperation by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with international human rights mechanisms 41. As mentioned by the Special Rapporteur in his first report and his statement to the General Assembly in October 2010, it is important to bear in mind some of the positive elements with regards to cooperation with the United Nations, for instance, the fact that the country is party to a number of human rights instruments, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, these positive steps are not an end in themselves and require further action in implementation of rights guaranteed under these instruments. 42. In 2009, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea underwent the universal periodic review of the Human Rights Council. The Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will need to make it clear which recommendations they accept, to avoid questions being raised as to the State party’s commitment and the purpose of the universal periodic review being undermined. By failing to explicitly express its support for any of the 19 20 10 Good Friends: Center for Peace, Human Rights and Refugees, North Korea Today No. 369, October 2010. “GIEWS Country Brief”.