[imText1]A report announced in October by Amnesty International on North Korean human rights concerns analyzed that deaths are continuing to arise from public executions, imprisonment, starvation and torture.
Amnesty announced a report “North Korea: Human Rights concerns” depicting the situation of human rights in North Korea, categorizing issues such as North Korea’s food crisis, child malnutrition, executions, starvation, torture and prison conditions, refugees, and freedom of expression.
The report expressed concerns that “The government continued to deny access to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in North Korea and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food as well as to Amnesty International and other independent human rights monitors.”
Also, using the case of Son Joeng Nam(48), a North Korean who was reportedly sentenced to public execution in April 2006, the report stated, “In March 2003, the government announced that it would refrain from executing criminals in public,” however, “Video footage emerged showing two people being shot in a public execution. The execution reportedly took place on March 1 in Hoiryeong.”
In particular, “Despite some changes in the law, the political and sometimes arbitrary use of imprisonment, torture and capital punishment continues,” and concerns were expressed. “The main problem in detention centers is the lack of food, which is attributed to the famine or food crisis.”
[imText2]Regarding the forced repatriation of defectors, Amnesty reported that the Chinese government continues to enforce a ‘clean up’ campaign in preparation for the 2008 Olympics, targeting “missionaries, aid workers and brokers involved in sheltering or transporting North Koreans.” Also, “An estimated 150-300 North Koreans are reportedly forcibly repatriated from China every week.”
In addition, the organization warned that the food crisis is worsening as a result of North Korea’s poor policies on food distribution, discontinuation of aid from international groups and damages from the flood.
Amnesty indicated the U.N. Committee for the Elimination of All Forms of Violence against Women concerns that these factors which have severely affected the country “could make women vulnerable to trafficking and other forms of exploitation, such as prostitution.”
Further, regarding the issue of religious freedom in North Korea the report stated “Religious freedom, although guaranteed by the constitution, is in practice sharply curtailed” and reported “severe repression of people involved in public and private religious activities occur through imprisonment, torture and executions.”
※ You can view the full report from the “Database”.
