North Korea's Draconian Laws: Defectors Reveal Human Rights Abuses
- Human Rights Research Center
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan
June 27, 2025
HRRC commends the UN Human Rights Office for documenting North Korea's human rights abuses and strongly condemns the North Korean regime's serious violations, including public executions and arbitrary detention. HRRC further demands that the regime cease all abuses, release detained individuals, and repeal draconian laws.
The United Nations Human Rights Office in Seoul, South Korea held two days of public hearings this week, with shocking testimonies from North Korean defectors describing serious and ongoing human rights crimes under Kim Jong Un's rule. The meetings are part of the UN's efforts to update the historic Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, which was released in 2014, with a new report scheduled for release in September 2025.
Defectors revealed brutal governmental tactics, including public executions, widespread discrimination, and the militarization of COVID-19 restrictions. One defector, Kim Il-hyeok, said that a 22-year-old man he knew was murdered by a firing squad for spreading only three South Korean dramas and 70 K-pop songs. He also said that such executions take place regularly, with up to 12 persons executed in a single session, particularly under the "Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act".
The female defector, who spoke anonymously, claimed that consequences for accessing South Korean content had escalated since 2015. Bribery was once used to prevent such violations, but they are now punishable by death. She linked this to the regime's concern about the Korean Wave's cultural effect, comparing it to drug use.
Defectors also criticized the state's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak. Kim Jong Un imposed harsh lockdowns, medical prohibitions, and bizarre cures like willow bark tea. He stated that starvation killed more people than the virus, and that the dictatorship falsely advertised that it had brought in vaccines at the price of one cow per dose. Implying that the vaccines were very expensive and that the general public of North Korea should be content with their regime for taking good care of them. However, the defectors’s claims exposed the North Korean regime’s inability to provide for its citizens.
Discrimination against individuals with disabilities was also discussed. Another defector, Maeng Hyo-shim, described how her disabled mother's attacker escaped justice through bribery, demonstrating the widespread corruption and neglect experienced by underprivileged groups.
UN officials, notably Seoul office chief James Heenan, stressed the importance of victim testimony in shaping global perceptions of the situation in North Korea. The new study will include interviews with over 400 defectors and intends to renew demands for accountability, including a possible referral of North Korea to the International Criminal Court.
Glossary
Accountability: Being responsible for one's actions and decisions.
Anonymously: Without disclosing one’s identity, name or any personal information.
Arbitrary: Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than reason or system. Inconsistent or irregular.
Bizarre: Strange, odd, or unusual.
Bribery: Giving or receiving something of value to influence someone's actions.
Commends: Praises or approves of something or someone.
Condemns: Strongly disapproves or criticizes something or someone.
Corruption: Abuse of power or position for personal gain.
Defectors: People who leave or betray a group, organization, or country.
Detention: Holding someone in custody, jail or prison.
Dictatorship: A system of government where one person has complete control.
Discrimination: Treating someone unfairly because of their characteristics, such as race, religion, class, etc.
Draconian: Extremely harsh or severe.
Executed: Put to death, often as a form of punishment.
Firing squad: A group of people who shoot someone as a form of punishment.
Intends: Plans or aims to do something.
K-pop: A genre of popular music from South Korea.
Medical prohibitions: Restrictions on medical practices or treatments.
Regime: A system of government or period of rule.
Referral: Recommendation or direction to someone or something.
Repeal: To officially cancel or end a law or rule.
Starvation: Suffering or death from lack of food.
Testimony: A statement or account given by a person, often in court.
Underprivileged: Lacking advantages or opportunities that others have.
Vaccine: A substance used to prevent or protect against diseases.
Willow's Bark: Willow bark contains a chemical called salicin, which is similar to aspirin. It has pain and fever reducing effects in the body.
Sources
