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North Korea Accuses US of Politicizing Human Rights Issues

FILED - 20 April 2024, North Korea: A picture released by the North Korean State News Agency (KCNA) on 20 April 2024 shows a "super-large warhead" power test for a strategic cruise missile and a test-fire of a new anti-aircraft rocket near the Yellow Sea. Photo: -/YNA/dpa
FILED - 20 April 2024, North Korea: A picture released by the North Korean State News Agency (KCNA) on 20 April 2024 shows a "super-large warhead" power test for a strategic cruise missile and a test-fire of a new anti-aircraft rocket near the Yellow Sea. Photo: -/YNA/dpa
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North Korea Accuses US of Politicizing Human Rights Issues

FILED - 20 April 2024, North Korea: A picture released by the North Korean State News Agency (KCNA) on 20 April 2024 shows a "super-large warhead" power test for a strategic cruise missile and a test-fire of a new anti-aircraft rocket near the Yellow Sea. Photo: -/YNA/dpa
FILED - 20 April 2024, North Korea: A picture released by the North Korean State News Agency (KCNA) on 20 April 2024 shows a "super-large warhead" power test for a strategic cruise missile and a test-fire of a new anti-aircraft rocket near the Yellow Sea. Photo: -/YNA/dpa

North Korea accused the United States on Saturday of politicizing human rights in the East Asian country, denouncing what it called political provocation and conspiracy.
Pyongyang will make stern and decisive choices to protect its sovereignty and safety in response to Washington using human rights as a tool for invasion and hostile, anti-North Korea behavior, state media KCNA quoted a foreign ministry spokesperson as saying.
The spokesperson cited a special envoy on human rights in the administration of President Joe Biden. The envoy on North Korean human rights issues, Julie Turner, visited Seoul and Tokyo in February to discuss North Korea.
An annual report this week by the State Department described "significant human rights issues" in North Korea, Reuters reported.
It cited credible reports of "arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearance; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by government authorities.”
North Korea also criticized the US for urging it to stop launching missiles and other rockets for what Washington calls violations of UN resolutions, KCNA said, mentioning a South Korean satellite launch in April.
"We will carry out our critical mission as planned to enhance our space reconnaissance capabilities to ensure the security of our country," KCNA said in a statement citing a spokesperson for North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration.

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Irregular Migration into EU Drops Sharply in 2024, EU Border Agency Says

Migrants wait after a boat carrying 23 people arrived at the port of La Restinga, in the municipality of El Pinar, on the island of El Hierro, Spain, 13 January 2025, where they have been attended to by emergency teams. (EPA)
Migrants wait after a boat carrying 23 people arrived at the port of La Restinga, in the municipality of El Pinar, on the island of El Hierro, Spain, 13 January 2025, where they have been attended to by emergency teams. (EPA)
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Irregular Migration into EU Drops Sharply in 2024, EU Border Agency Says

Migrants wait after a boat carrying 23 people arrived at the port of La Restinga, in the municipality of El Pinar, on the island of El Hierro, Spain, 13 January 2025, where they have been attended to by emergency teams. (EPA)
Migrants wait after a boat carrying 23 people arrived at the port of La Restinga, in the municipality of El Pinar, on the island of El Hierro, Spain, 13 January 2025, where they have been attended to by emergency teams. (EPA)

The number of migrants entering the European Union by irregular routes dropped overall by 38% in 2024, reaching the lowest level since 2021, the EU border agency Frontex said on Tuesday.

However, the number of people crossing from the EU's borders with Belarus and Russia jumped 192% to 17,000, Frontex said.

Significant numbers of migrants or asylum-seekers also came from Syria, Afghanistan, Egypt and African countries even as routes into the bloc shifted.

Irregular migration has become a key issue in European politics with many far-right and populist parties campaigning in recent and upcoming elections, including in Germany next month, on promises of getting tough on migration.

Frontex said the drop to just over 239,000 irregular border crossings last year was thanks to intensified EU and partner cooperation against smuggling networks. It was the lowest level since 2021 when migration was still affected by the COVID pandemic.

The overall reduction in irregular migration was mainly driven by a 59% plunge in arrivals via the Central Mediterranean route due to fewer departures from Tunisia and Libya and a 78% fall on the Western Balkan route thanks to strong efforts by countries in the region to stem the flow, Frontex said.

But there were 14% more cases, reaching 69,400, of irregular border crossing attempts on the Eastern Mediterranean route driven by new corridors from eastern Libya, with migrants predominantly from Syria, Afghanistan, and Egypt.

There was also an 18% rise in the number of migrants taking the Western African route to reach the Canary Islands with arrivals reaching almost 47,000 last year, fueled by departures from Mauritania.

"While 2024 saw a significant reduction in irregular border crossings, it also highlighted emerging risks and shifting dynamics," Frontex head Hans Leijtens said.