Mr. Speaker, the situation in North Korea is appalling. As noted recently by the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in North Korea, there are up to 200,000 political prisoners languishing in North Korean concentration camps, a sharp increase from 10 years ago. Reports of the conditions in these gulags are shocking, including executions, torture, rapes and forced abortions on female prisoners.
Canada remains gravely concerned by the lack of fundamental freedoms in North Korea. Our government has imposed sanctions and a controlled engagement policy on this rogue regime.
I urge the regime in Pyongyang to release its political prisoners and co-operate with the international community.