UN expert warns of rights impact of North Korea tests

North Korea Deputy U.N. Ambassador Kim In Ryong, holds a press briefing, Monday March 13, 2017 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (The Associated Press)

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North Korea Deputy U.N. Ambassador Kim In Ryong, speaks during a press briefing, Monday March 13, 2017 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews) (The Associated Press)

Tomas Ojea Quintana, U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, informs to the media during a press conference after he presented his report to the 34th session of the Human Rights Council, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, March 13, 2017. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) (The Associated Press)

GENEVA – The U.N. human rights office's special rapporteur on North Korea says tensions caused by its ballistic missile and nuclear tests are jeopardizing efforts to improve human rights in the secretive country.

Tomas Ojea Quintana told the Human Rights Council: "Military tensions have brought human rights dialogue with the DPRK to a standstill."

The council report was the first by Ojea Quintana, who is from Argentina, since he took the post last year.

He also pointed to concerns about the "human cost of sanctions" by the U.N. Security Council that have aimed to block North Korea's access to ballistic and nuclear weapons technology.