Report Says That North Korea Executes People for Having South Korean Videos, Drugs

The South Korean government released a 450-page report on Thursday, stating that North Korea continues to violate human rights and suppress its citizens’ freedoms by executing them for possessing South Korean media and engaging in religious activities, among other crimes. The report was based on testimony collected from over 500 North Korean defectors who fled from the country between 2017 and 2022.

The Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said that the North Korean citizens’ right to life is greatly threatened, and were put to death for drug offenses, distributing South Korean videos, and participating in superstitious activities that do not justify the death penalty. The ministry also mentioned atrocities that take place in prison camps, communities, and other areas, such as public executions, torture, and unjust arrests.

Although Reuters was not able to independently verify South Korea’s findings, they were consistent with reports by non-governmental organizations and United Nations investigations. North Korea has denied allegations of human rights abuses, dismissing them as a plot to undermine its authority.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated that the report would inform the international community about the “gruesome” abuses occurring in North Korea, and that the country does not deserve any economic assistance while pursuing its nuclear ambitions. Yoon’s approach differs from that of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who was criticized for his softer stance on North Korean rights issues as he pursued closer ties with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un.

Under domestic law, the Unification Ministry is required to make an annual assessment of North Korea’s human rights situation. As per the Ministry’s data, 34,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea, and border security measures have significantly reduced defections. In 2021, only 63 North Koreans crossed the border due to COVID-19 restrictions, which increased slightly to 67 in 2022, as per the Ministry’s data.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Robert Birsel)

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