South Korea won another term on the U.N. Human Rights Council on Monday.

South Korea's re-election reflects its efforts for promoting human rights around the world as a member of the 37-member council, South Korean diplomats here said.

The U.N. General Assembly voted to pick South Korea and 17 other nations as members of the Geneva-based council for three-year terms beginning on Jan. 1, 2013.

South Korea first became a member of the organization in 2006, when it was created to replace the U.N. Human Rights Commission.

Seoul has been serving a second term. South Korea's re-election this time was uncontested.

On the contrary, the U.S. was also re-elected to a second term on the council after a fierce competition in the Western Group.

Germany and Ireland were also chosen. The other candidates -- Greece and Sweden -- failed to get seats.

Washington took note of persistent criticism against the council.

"While much hard work remains to be done, especially ending the Council's disproportionate and biased focus on Israel, we look forward to cooperating with other Council members to continue to address human rights concerns and to ensure that the Council fully realizes its promise," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement.

Other elected nations include Argentina, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gabon, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Montenegro, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela

Several human rights groups have condemned the U.N. for awarding the council's seats to countries that they claim are unqualified, including Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Venezuela. (Yonhap News)






U.S. re-elected to U.N. Human Rights Council seat