North Korean officials did not attend a high-level human rights discussion on the DPRK which took place on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly Tuesday, NK News has learned.

Ja Song Nam, North Korea’s Ambassador to the UN, had told media that DPRK delegates previously requested permission to attend the event, which would focus on North Korea’s human rights violations.

“We told the U.S. that we will attend the talks. If the meeting is focused on North Korean issues, we should attend. We are waiting for an answer from Washington,” Ja said told media on