United Nations ? A divided U.N. General Assembly committee approved a resolution Thursday expressing “serious concern” about reports of widespread human rights violations in North Korea.

The vote on the resolution, sponsored by the European Union, was 84 in favor, 22 against, and 62 abstentions, a reflection of the deep split in the world body over the broad issue of human rights and the narrower one of how to tackle abuses.

It is expected to be sent to the General Assembly for a final vote.

The resolution sparked heated debate in the assembly committee that deals with social and humanitarian issues, partly because it was the first time that a resolution on human rights in North Korea was introduced in the General Assembly.

The resolution, which has 40 co-sponsors, expresses “serious concern” about the “continuing reports of systemic, widespread and grave violations of human rights” in North Korea, including torture, public executions, imposing the death penalty for political reasons and extensive use of forced labor.