The United Nations General Assembly committee that oversees human rights issues has passed a resolution calling for the UN Security Council to refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, as North Korea warned of further nuclear tests in response.

The resolution acknowledged findings from an earlier UN Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses in the country, stating there were "reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed ... pursuant to policies established at the highest level of the State for decades."

It goes on to call for a referral to the International Criminal Court “and consideration of the scope for effective targeted sanctions against those who appear to be most responsible" for the violations.

The non-binding vote was passed with 111 countries in favour and 19 against, with 55 abstentions.

Amongst those who voted against the resolution were North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on a motion that will recommend North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and tried for war crimes.

The resolution, which is co-sponsored by more than 50 countries and has been drafted by the European Union and Japan, is expected to pass by a simple majority, although it is non-binding.

Michael Kirby, the retired Australian judge who headed the Commission of Inquiry into North Korea that recommended ICC prosecution told the Telegraph,

"The members of the United Nations should not, once again, turn away from the rights of the people of North Korea to have accountability for great crimes. Not now that the world has the report of the United Nations Commission. Now the world cannot say that it does not know what has been going on in North Korea."

"If the case of (North Korea) is not, objectively, a case for referral to the Prosecutor at the ICC, it is hard to imagine a case that would be."

Court bailiffs backed by police have begun clearing one of the main pro-democracy protest camps in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

The protest site in the Admiralty district saw its barricades dismantled after a high court injunction was granted. Hong Kong’s police stated that they would support the bailiffs who moved in to clear the site, warning of “resolute action” against anyone who obstructed or “violently charge[d]” the bailiffs.

The high court has also authorised the clearance of another protest site in Mong Kok, though a third camp remains at Causeway Bay.

Bosnian authorities have arrested 12 men suspected of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, for their role in an attack on a Bosnian village that killed at least 150 Muslims in 1992.

The men, former members of the Bosnian Serb army and police "are charged with murders, torture, rapes, as well as with looting and destroying the property of Bosniaks in the village of Zecovi as part of a bid to drive the Bosniaks from the village," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Prosecutors went on to say the crimes were part of a "wide and systematic attack of (Serb) army and police against the Muslim population of the village of Zecovi... in which more than 150 victims were killed."

Former foreign minister Michel Kafando, has been named as Burkina Faso's interim president by a committee of political, military, religious and traditional authorities, following a military takeover in the country last month.

On announcement of the news, Kafando said that,

“The committee has just designated me to guide temporarily the destiny of our country. This is more than an honour. It’s a true mission which I will take with the utmost seriousness.” 

The appointment means Kafando will be barred from standing from elections, which have been planned for late next year. He will now be expected to appoint a prime minister and a 25-member government.

The appointment of an interim president comes after the African Union warned Burkina Faso that it faces sanctions if civilian rule was not restored.

“Today we offer our prayers and condolences to the parents and family of Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known to us as Peter.”

"Today we grieve together, yet we also recall that the indomitable spirit of goodness and perseverance that burned so brightly in Abdul-Rahman Kassig."