Washington (December 10, 2019) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), Ranking Member of the East Asia subcommittee, released the following statement after reports indicate U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft will not be convening a meeting on North Korean human rights abuses at the UN Security Council. In years previous, the United States had spearheaded efforts in support for the topic to be placed on the agenda. Last year was the first year the meeting failed to occur due to what many ascribe to a lack of historic U.S. support. Last month, Senator Markey called on Ambassador Craft to include North Korean human rights on the agenda.

“Even as we work to freeze and roll back North Korea’s nuclear and  missile programs, the Trump administration would concede U.S. moral leadership in fighting for human rights everywhere on the globe,” said Senator Markey. “U.S. silence is tactic acceptance for the plight of millions of North Koreans living under Kim’s brutal regime. We can and must be better than that.”

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