{"id":30653,"date":"2021-04-08T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-07T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csw-yeo.1wp.site\/reports\/general-briefing-north-korea-5220\/"},"modified":"2026-09-23T19:36:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T18:36:01","slug":"general-briefing-north-korea-5220","status":"publish","type":"reports","link":"https:\/\/www.csw.org.uk\/es\/reports\/general-briefing-north-korea-5220\/","title":{"rendered":"General Briefing: North Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, is the world\u2019s most closed, isolated and repressive state, with one of the worst records for human rights. It is ruled by the only dictatorship in the world which is both a dynasty and portrays itself as a deity.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, and any North Korean who expresses an opinion or a belief which differs from the regime\u2019s propaganda faces severe punishment. According to The Korea Institute for National Unification<\/a>, a South Korean government agency, it is estimated that between 80,000 and 120,000 people are detained in prison camps, where they endure dire living conditions and brutal torture. Many of these are Christians.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defectors who are forcibly returned to North Korea are charged with \u2018treachery against the nation\u2019, sent to prison camps and face abuse, violence and even execution. Despite this, the Chinese government has retained its policy of repatriating all North Korean defectors.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has been increased engagement between the US and North Korea,<\/span>and Kim Jong-Un has held several meetings with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, but disappointingly human rights concerns have not featured on the agenda of the talks. For engagement with North Korea to be meaningful, countries must raise their concerns about the human rights violations happening under Kim Jong-Un\u2019s leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commission of Inquiry<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The gravity and extent of human rights abuses were exposed in the ground-breaking United Nations Commission of Inquiry (COI) report<\/a> on human rights in North Korea, published in February 2014 after a year-long investigation. The Commission concluded that the gravity, scale and nature of the violations of human rights in North Korea \u2018reveal a State that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to its total denial of respect for a wide range of other human rights, freedom of religion or belief in North Korea is non-existent, and the country is cited as one of the worst in the world for the persecution of Christians. With the exception of four official state-controlled churches in Pyongyang, Christians face the risk of detention in the prison camps, severe torture and, in some cases, execution for practising their religious beliefs. North Koreans suspected of having contact with South Korean or other foreign missionaries in China, and those caught in possession of a Bible, have been known to be executed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The COI report details widespread crimes against humanity, and noted that \u2018there is an almost complete denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion\u2019. It concluded that the regime \u2018considers the spread of Christianity a particularly severe threat\u2019 and as a result, \u2018Christians are prohibited from practising their religion and are persecuted\u2019. Severe punishments are inflicted on people \u2018caught practising Christianity\u2019. Documented incidents include Christians being hung on a cross over a fire, crushed under a steamroller, herded off bridges and trampled underfoot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The COI report calls for accountability for the widespread and grave violations of human rights, states that these violations amount to crimes against humanity, and calls for a referral to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for prosecution for these crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the publication of the COI report, the human rights situation in North Korea has risen up the UN\u2019s agenda. The Human Rights Council and General Assembly passed resolutions in 2014 endorsing the report and its recommendations. In December 2014, the Security Council considered for the first time the human rights situation separately from the nuclear non-proliferation question, and human rights in North Korea are now discussed in this way every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, with the exception of the establishment of the UN Field Office in Seoul, few of the COI\u2019s recommendations have been implemented; further work must be done to see the recommendations implemented. Action to end the crimes against humanity in North Korea is long overdue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2018 CSW published a new report<\/a> which found that although the regime has not shown any signs of change in regard to human rights, increased flows of information into the country via radio broadcasts, DVDs, USB sticks and other means, as well as economic changes in the country, have resulted in a greater awareness among North Korean people about the outside world. The COI is believed to have had some impact within the country, resulting in anecdotal reports of a reduction in the most severe violations. That does not mean that there is any improvement in human rights in North Korea, but it does mean that international pressure and information flows need to be maintained and increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent developments<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

In April 2020, speculation mounted that Kim Jong-Un may have been gravely ill or may even have died. However, in May 2020 he re-emerged, opening a fertilizer plant outside Pyongyang. It is unclear precisely what happened to Kim in this time, however the episode highlighted once again how difficult it is to get reliable information regarding the situation in North Korea, including in relation to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The full impact of the coronavirus on North Korea remains unknown but should not be underestimated. Claims by the ruling regime that there are no cases in the country seem unlikely, given South Korea has seen over 11,000 cases and over 250 deaths, despite being praised for its handling of the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Informes<\/a> indicate that \u201cthousands have been quarantined and categorized as \u2018under medical observation.\u2019\u201d A news site run by North Korean escapees claimed<\/a>in March 2020 that 180 soldiers had died of the virus, and 3,700 were in quarantine. Additionally, in May the Chinese president had expressed<\/a>concern regarding the threat the virus posed to North Korea, and offered assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All indications are that the virus may have reached North Korea. What remains unclear is the extent to which it has affected the country\u2019s elite, its general population, and its infamous prison camps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government\u2019s contention that the nation is virus-free was thrown into further doubt by the publication of a report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which analysed the impact of COVID-19 on access to food in 47 countries, including North Korea. According to the report<\/a>, North Korea has suffered substantial food shortages this year, while the country\u2019s borders remain closed despite claims of no infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pandemic has made it even more difficult for North Koreans to flee their country, with borders officially closed and increased security making it harder to cross illegally. According to the Ministry of Unification in South Korea, only 12 North Koreans reached Seoul between April and June this year \u2013 seven in April, two in May, and three in June. Last year, 320 North Koreans made it to South Korea during the same period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, the journey for North Koreans fleeing to South Korea via China, which can involve travelling through Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, or Mongolia, will also have become more difficult due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions and lockdowns in many of these nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recommendations<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

To the government of North Korea<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n