Oct. 29 (Bloomberg) -- North Korea has barred entry by the first United Nations official named to gauge human rights violations in the communist dictatorship, which has been called part of an ``axis of evil'' by U.S. President George W. Bush.

Vitit Muntarbhorn, a professor of international law at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, said he has ``very serious concerns'' about the lack of freedom of speech, religion and assembly in North Korea. Muntarbhorn, appointed in April by the UN Commission on Human Rights, gave his first report yesterday to the UN General Assembly.

Muntarbhorn said he held a meeting last month in Geneva with a representative of the North Korean government who refused to recognize his UN status and said he wouldn't be allowed to visit the country. The North Koreans received him only ``in my capacity as an academic,'' Muntarbhorn told reporters today at the UN.

``While it is claimed by the national authorities that there are rights in regard to access to information, expression/opinion, association and religion, the reality often indicates the contrary,'' Muntarbhorn said in his UN report. ``If a person is punished for a political or ideological crime, members of his or her family are also punished.''

Muntarbhorn said that while he is reluctant to make a firm judgment of human rights in North Korea before visiting the country, the fact that the UN created the post of ``special rapporteur'' meant a ``serious situation'' exists there. The only other similar UN positions are for Belarus, Myanmar and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Muntarbhorn's report also cited ``strict controls'' over movement throughout the country, refusal to allow random checks to see if humanitarian aid was properly distributed, and a substantial number of illegally detained political prisoners, including the abduction of Japanese nationals.

In response, North Korean envoy Pak Dok Hun said the report represented interference in the internal affairs of his nation, that the allegations of violations were `slanderous'' and that Muntarbhorn was ``biased'' in his preliminary assessment.

To contact the reporter of this story: Bill Varner at the United Nations at wvarner@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 29, 2004 15:32 EDT