6502. THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL PLACED NORTH KOREA'S BLEAK HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION ON ITS AGENDA MONDAY, A GROUNDBREAKING STEP TOWARD POSSIBLY HOLDING THE NUCLEAR-ARMED BUT DESPERATELY POOR COUNTRY AND LEADER KIM JONG-UN ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALLEGED CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY. NORTH KOREA SAYS IT WILL NOT ATTEND MONDAY'S MEETING. IT ACCUSES THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES OF USING THE HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AS A WEAPON TO OVERTHROW THE LEADERSHIP OF THE IMPOVERISHED BUT NUCLEAR-ARMED NATION. IF THE COUNCIL TAKES ANY ACTION, "MAYBE WE WILL TAKE NECESSARY MEASURES," DIPLOMAT KIM SONG TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ON FRIDAY. HE DID NOT GIVE DETAILS. NORTH KOREA ALREADY SENT A SHARP WARNING LAST MONTH, THREATENING FURTHER NUCLEAR TESTS AFTER THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE VOTED TO MOVE THE ISSUE TOWARD THE SECURITY COUNCIL. CHINA AND ITS VETO POWER AS A PERMANENT COUNCIL MEMBER COULD BLOCK ANY ACTION AGAINST ITS TRADITIONAL BUT TROUBLESOME ALLY.
