(23.9.2014) North Korea has asked to participate in a ministerial meeting that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is hosting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly to discuss the North‘s human rights record, Pyongyang‘s ambassador to the United Nations said Monday.

Ambassador Ja Song-nam told reporters that the North is waiting for a response from the United States after asking for the country‘s participation in the human rights meeting set for Tuesday.

The envoy said the North should attend the meeting and put forward its position because it is an issue about the country. He also emphasized that there is no reason for the U.S. to oppose the North‘s participation if it is truly interested in resolving problems through dialogue.