A United Nations committee has passed a draft resolution introduced by Japan and the European Union that denounces North Korea's human rights violations.

The draft resolution seeks to refer Pyongyang's record to the International Criminal Court — although the chances of realizing such move are slim — and to hold the country's top leaders responsible for alleged crimes against humanity.

One hundred and eleven countries backed the text, while 19 voted against it and 55 abstained from the vote, which was held on Tuesday.