The British Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office have just released their annual edition of "Human Rights and Democracy," a report outlining the state of human rights and democracy around the world in 2012. The report finds "little improvement in the human rights situation in the DPRK in 2012."

As there are continuing reports of widespread human rights violations in North Korea, the report comments on how the UK has engaged with the regime on human rights over the last year. In particular, the British government have repeatedly raised concerns with the North Korean authorities about prison camps. Engagement on improving the human rights situation has gone beyond mere dialogue.

The British government invited North Korean officials to witness the British judicial system; this invitation was accepted and North Koreans went to visit British courts. Junior North Korean officials were also given English-language training via a British government program. As well as engaging with the regime with various programs, the UK also used their position at the UN this year to support investigations into North Korean human rights.

At the UN General Assembly, the UK co-sponsored the resolution on human rights in North Korea. It also supported the EU- and Japan-led resolution on human rights in North Korea at the UN Human Rights Council. Both resolutions were successfully adopted.

The remainder of the report outlines the human rights issues inside the country. It is clear from the report that little has changed since the British government released their last "Human Rights and Democracy" report.