ISTANBUL 

North Korea on Sunday supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution that granted Palestine "rights and privileges" in observer status and urged the Security Council to reconsider Palestine's bid to become the 194th member of the UN.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry supported the resolution and deemed it timely, the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing a ministry statement.

The resolution, which recognizes Palestine as an independent sovereign state, reflects the international community's strong desire for Middle Eastern peace and stability, the statement said.

It also condemned the US's "one Jewish state policy" over a "two-state solution policy" and criticized Washington's veto of a relevant draft resolution at the UN Security Council on April 18.

North Korea reaffirmed its full support for the Palestinian cause, calling for an end to Israel's illegal occupation and the establishment of Palestine as an independent sovereign state.

On May 10, the UN General Assembly approved a draft resolution urging the UN Security Council to reconsider Palestine's membership and grant Palestine, which currently has observer status, some additional rights.