Experts tasked by the United Nations probing human rights violations in North Korea said Friday Pyongyang has refused to cooperate with the investigation.

Experts tasked by the United Nations probing human rights violations in North Korea said Friday Pyongyang has refused to cooperate with the investigation.

A letter was sent under my hand ... seeking to reach out to the DPRK, North Korea, in order that we would have cooperation, contact and dialogue," said former Australian judge Michael Kirby, who heads the newly formed UN commission of inquiry on the secretive country.

That letter, sent ahead of the initial meeting of the three commission members in Geneva this week, received "a polite but negative response," he told reporters in the Swiss city.

The commission, which includes Serbian human rights campaigner Sonja Biserko and former Indonesian attorney general Marzuki Darusman, who since 2010 has been monitoring North Korea for the UN Human Rights Council, nonetheless hopes it will be allowed into the country, he said.

"We will be sending a request today (for access)... and we are hopeful that that will have a positive response," Kirby said, stressing the commission's efforts to communicate to Pyongyang "reassurances of the neutrality and independence with which we will discharge our task."

He said the commission hoped to visit North Korea between August 11-17.