[imText1]It is confirmed that North Korea is still utilizing public execution as a means to secure the regime.
The footage of public execution of a factory worker, Yoo Bun Hee, carried out in Hamju County, South Hamkyong Province last July, divulges NK authorities’ such intention.
The public execution featured in the video clip released by Japanese Asahi Television on Wednesday can be divided into two separate parts of show trial; a public trial and execution, and subsequent forced rally against crime. The rally is distinctive with other mass meetings in its purpose of condemning criminals in an open space.
A security official declares, before show trial, to start ‘a mass rally to conduct public execution of a murderer and to convict other criminals.’
Do Hee Yun, director of the Citizen’s Coalition for Human Rights of Abductees and North Korean Refugees, says in an interview that there are reports of public execution not only in Hamju County but also in Dancheon and other areas. The North Korean regime, argues Do, is sustaining by killing people amid international isolation and food shortage.
Current situation inside North Korean society is serious enough to threaten the regime to collapse. The U.S. financial sanction drains off Kim’s private funds and isolation in the international society is deepened since the missile launch. In addition, food shortage is getting worse after flood. It is understood that North Korean regime endeavors to strengthen the control of the society through a reign of terror.
Other sources report that government agencies including security office start to tighten social discipline to prevent infiltration of outside information and foreign movies.
In the mid 90s, during the worst period of famine, thefts and murders were all over the country and millions defected to China. Public executions might be preventive measures against similar kind of disorder.
Also, North Korean authorities’ lack of awareness in human rights is the problem in the first place. If so, Pyongyang regime would continue to execute people publicly regardless of international pressure against the brutality.
A Kim Il Sung University bulletin number 2, published last month, argued for ‘effectiveness of ‘public trial (execution)’ to educate the mass and necessity of compelling the people to follow law and order.’
According to a defector and former security officer, it has been ordered to execute 2000 per year. However, execution was carried out without consideration of the class of the criminals to reach the goal, many previous Proletarian class members were degraded.
From around 2000, North Korean authorities have changed its policy of abundant public execution to that of closed execution with the aim of avoiding further disorder and alienation of the people from the regime. Still, public execution for the purpose of ‘mass education’ has not been interrupted.
It is expected that international pressure for human rights in North Korea would increase and South Korean government’s will to improve NK human rights, if any, would be in question, once again. North Korea, however, will continue public execution because of its effectiveness in securing the regime.
In the end, a call for regime change in Pyongyang, to prevent anymore victims of the wicked dictatorship of Kim Jong Il, would revitalize.
