[imText1]Good Friend, a support organization for North Korea, with news from internal sources, revealed that on May 17th and 19th, public executions were administered on the riverbanks of the Susung creek next to the Sunam market in Chongjin.
Good Friend conveyed that “On the 17th, 2 people received the death penalty for selling videotapes and illicit drugs known as “Ice” (Philopon systems), and on the 19th a discharged soldier was executed for selling electric cables.
Good Friend added “This discharged soldier was born in Jagang province, and after having been discharged from the military, returned to his hometown. He found it difficult to make a living, however, and stole and subsequently sold about 150m of electric cable, although he was caught.”
At the beginning of the year, North Korean authorities declared that “Any action involving the secret buying and selling of drugs or cutting of electric lines for selling will be sentenced to the death penalty.” Word spread that last March in Euiju, North Pyongan province, 2 women in their forties were arrested for suspicion of drug distribution, and are awaiting the death penalty.
While the unfortunate circumstances of these executions are obvious, a positive aspect lies in the fact that international opposition to North Korea’s public executions is growing.
Recent news reports revealed that Shon Jong Nam (48) of Chongjin, North Hamkyung province, was charged with treason for having met with his younger sibling in China, and was to receive a public execution in mid-April. The European Union (EU) and Amnesty International urged the suspension of Shon’s execution, proposing that North Korean authorities release him. At present, there is no confirmation of whether or not Shon received the death penalty.
In the past, North Korea has enforced public execution with measures such as disguising them as political gatherings. After the “Public Execution Public Notice” was submitted to the world society at the end of the 1990s, the number of border executions decreased, however, recently, it seems that policies have loosened, and that public executions are once again being implemented as a warning to the people.
