A/HRC/31/70 I. Introduction 1. Two years have passed since the commission of inquiry on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea presented to the Human Rights Council its finding that crimes against humanities had been and were being committed in the country (see A/HRC/25/63). Regrettably, the situation of human rights has not improved, and the crimes against humanity documented by the commission appear to continue. Nonetheless, the situation in the Korean peninsula appears to be improving, as seen in the increasing dialogue and number of interactions between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea. Public discussions on the future of the Korean peninsula today are more visible, at least in the Republic of Korea. 2. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur describes how accountability for crimes against humanity should be ensured. Given the serious nature of these crimes, he urges the international community to take bold steps to address them while recalling its duty to prosecute such international crimes. In this way, the Special Rapporteur hopes that concrete steps aimed at achieving accountability for crimes against humanity committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will be taken. II. Latest developments 3. Since the previous report of the Special Rapporteur submitted to the Human Rights Council in March 2015 (A/HRC/28/71), there have been several important developments pertaining to the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. A. Engagement with the international community 4. In the second of half of 2015, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea again showed willingness to engage with the international community on human rights, probably spurred by the upcoming debate in the General Assembly on the situation of human rights in the country. 5. In September 2015, the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea invited the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit the country and expressed its interest in continuing discussions on possible forms of technical assistance by the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR). In June 2015, a delegation of the European Union visited the country to hold a political dialogue with the authorities, including on improving the protection of human rights. In October, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea repatriated a national of the Republic of Korea and also permanent resident in the United States of America who had been detained since unlawfully entering the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in April 2015. During 2015, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea repatriated at least three more individuals to the Republic of Korea. 6. On 21 September 2015, the Special Rapporteur participated in a panel discussion on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea held during the thirtieth session of the Human Rights Council. The discussion, which was moderated by the former chairperson of the commission of inquiry, touched upon the issues of international abductions, enforced disappearances and related matters. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, however, rejected the panel discussion, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to change the socialist system of the country. 2