The Kim Jong Il era keynote ‘military-first politics’ have been embraced without alteration by the regime of Kim Jong Eun, and the human rights situation in the country is getting worse not better, according to the analysis of a law professor from Chungang University, Jei Seong Ho.

Speaking at a debate event yesterday, ‘Core Issues in North Korean Human Rights and the Response of the International Community’, Jei explained his conclusion, asserting, “Immediately following Kim Jong Il’s death on December 17th, 2011, ‘military-first politics’ was swapped for ‘rule of the last instructions’ and thus they are clearly continuing with his 'military-first' political inheritance.”

Not only that, Jei went on, “For the purposes of maintaining the socialist system and securing the regime of Kim Jong Eun, North Korea is strengthening ideological controls and civilian surveillance. In reality, since the end of last year North Korea has been implementing the rule of fear and despotism; suppressing farmers’ and ordinary markets, actively pursuing defectors, banning the use of illegal cell phones and so on.”

Therefore, he concluded, “The government of South Korea must closely analyze the Kim Jong Eun regime’s civilian controls and repressive line to promote a short- and long-term, all-encompassing and systematic human rights policy,” calling such a policy one that divides the North Korean regime from its people while also dividing South Korean government, NGO and international community roles to best effect.