Introduction

1.  The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-third session from 6 to 17 May 2019. The review of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was held at the 8th meeting, on 9 May 2019. The delegation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was headed by the Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Tae Song Han. At its 14th meeting, held on 14 May 2019, the Working Group adopted the report on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

2.  On 15 January 2019, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: Eritrea, Fiji and Spain.

3.  In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea:

    (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/33/PRK/1);

    (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/33/PRK/2);

    (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/33/PRK/3).

4.  A list of questions prepared in advance by Angola, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national implementation, reporting and follow-up, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review.