Seoul - North Korea on Saturday criticized South Korea for supporting a UN draft resolution on its human rights records, saying Seoul`s decision was a "criminal act that creates another obstacle to inter-Korean relations."
In a statement issued by the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland and quoted by the state news agency KCNA, Pyongyang described the resolution as a "plot" and said "South Korea should take full responsibility for the aftermath of its decision."
The human rights committee of the 192-nation UN General Assembly on Friday voted 91-21, with 60 abstentions, on a draft resolution condemning Pyongyang for abusing the human rights of its own people.
The resolution condemned North Korea for inflicting torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and capital punishment for political offences on its people.
It was supported by the European Union, the United States and Japan and a small number of countries.
South Korea voted in favour to condemn its neighbour, hoping that support for the resolution would influence the Pyongyang government to improve the lives of its citizens.
The resolution will be sent to the General Assembly for a final approval, which is expected. The human rights committee is one of six committees working for the assembly and is different from the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.