The United Nations has released a grim new report exposing how North Korea has tightened control over its citizens’ lives, increasingly using the death penalty, forced labour, and surveillance to silence dissent. Based on over 300 interviews with escapees, the report paints a disturbing picture of life under Kim Jong Un’s regime, where even watching foreign films can mean execution.
Death Penalty for Foreign Content
Since 2015, North Korea has introduced at least six new laws that expand the death penalty to cover offences like watching or sharing foreign films and dramas. Escapees told UN researchers that public executions by firing squads have been carried out to deter others. One escapee described how her 23-year-old friend was executed for possessing South Korean media, showing how cultural exposure is equated with serious crimes like drug trafficking.
Hunger and Broken Promises
When Kim Jong Un came to power in 2011, many believed he would improve living conditions. Instead, the report found that food shortages have worsened, with three meals a day now considered a luxury. During the Covid-19 pandemic, hunger intensified as informal markets were shut down and border controls tightened. These measures cut off vital trade and escape routes, leaving families more vulnerable than ever.
Surveillance and Forced Labour
The UN report notes how advances in technology have made surveillance “more pervasive,” blocking even the smallest signs of dissatisfaction. At the same time, the state is deploying forced labour through so-called “shock brigades,” where poor citizens, including thousands of orphans, are pushed into hazardous construction and mining work. Fatalities are often glorified as sacrifices for the regime, rather than prompting safety reforms.
Political Camps Still Active
Despite international pressure, at least four political prison camps remain operational. Escapees said torture, starvation, and abuse are still common, though some reported slight decreases in guard violence. The UN has urged the global community to refer North Korea’s actions to the International Criminal Court, but political roadblocks remain, with China and Russia repeatedly blocking sanctions.
A Call for Change
The UN is pressing North Korea to abolish the death penalty, shut down prison camps, and educate its citizens about human rights. While the regime tightens control, young North Koreans reportedly show a strong desire for change—though their voices are brutally suppressed.
