North Korean Executions Witness Rise During Pandemic Years
The analysis, conducted by the Seoul-based non-governmental organization Transitional Justice Working Group, examined capital punishment and execution cases over a 13-year span under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, covering the years from 2011 through 2024.
Among 144 verified executions documented during this timeframe, 65 occurred after the nation sealed its borders at the onset of the pandemic.
Findings indicated that executions had decreased between 2015 and 2019 amid growing international attention, but rose sharply again after 2020. Overall, executions and death sentences climbed by 116.7%, while the number of people impacted surged by 247.7%.
The report also noted that executions associated with actions such as viewing South Korean media or participating in religious activities increased by 250% after border restrictions were imposed.
In addition, researchers pinpointed 46 execution locations nationwide, including five situated within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of major government sites in Pyongyang.
"As the regime pursues a 4th hereditary succession of power, there is a high risk of increased executions to strengthen cultural and ideological control and maintain political dominance," the study said.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
