Seoul to condemn N.Korea human rights

SEOUL, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- South Korea has decided to vote for a U.N. resolution on North Korea's human rights situation, Seoul officials said Thursday.

It would be a major turnaround in South Korea's policy toward North Korea following its nuclear test.

South Korea has long been absent or has abstained from voting on a U.N. resolution condemning North Korea for human rights abuses for fear of angry responses from the communist neighbor despite strong outcries at home.

"The government has decided to vote in favor (of the U.N. resolution) and expects our decision to help promote human rights as universal values and to galvanize dialogue and cooperation on human rights between North Korea and the international community," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Third Committee of the 61st session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York was set to vote on the U.N. draft resolution on North Korea's human rights later Thursday.

Seoul's Unification Ministry, however, said the government's decision to join U.N. resolution does not mean any change in the South's reconciliation policy toward the North.

North Korea has vehemently denounced the human rights resolution, calling it a U.S.-led plot to topple its communist regime.