"North Korea's Human Rights Crisis Sparks International Controversy"

North Korea has criticized a recent United Nations meeting on its human rights record, accusing the United States of using the international organization as a "scheme" against Pyongyang. The U.N. Security Council discussed human rights abuses in North Korea, with the U.S. ambassador condemning leader Kim Jong Un for using repression and cruelty to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. Meanwhile, the leaders of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan agreed to deepen military and economic cooperation to address China's growing power and nuclear threats from North Korea. China, North Korea's major ally, opposed the meeting but did not block it. North Korea vowed to defend its sovereignty, socialist system, and security interests against what it perceives as the U.S.'s anti-North Korea human rights slander scheme.