A United Nations-mandated commission investigating the status of human rights in North Korea and chaired by former Australian High Court justice Michael Kirby will commence a series of public hearings in Seoul next week. The commission will gather information from a variety of witnesses, including those who have recently fled the North.

"We are approaching this inquiry with impartiality, and with no preconceptions," said Kirby, adding that attempts to engage with the North Korean government on this matter were at this point unsuccessful. A final written report will be submitted to the Human Rights Council in March 2014. The council has already committed itself to refer the final document to appropriate U.N. bodies for follow-up.

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