Asia and Oceania

Korea, DPR (North Korea)
Last reviewed: 25 June 2009

Country information

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POLITICS

Constitution

According to the DPRK, it is an 'independent socialist state representing the interests of all the Korean people' with sovereignty residing in 'the workers, peasants, working intellectuals and all other working people'. The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) is effectively the only political party. However, under Kim Jong Il real power rests with a military-centred elite. The DPRK follows the principle of Juche, a system based on independence and self-reliance, although in recent years 'military-first' or 'Songun' politics has become DPRK's guiding slogan. The DPRK's foreign policy principles are 'independence, peace and solidarity'.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The DPRK has ratified four of the major UN Conventions: the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Among those not ratified are conventions relating to slavery and trafficking in humans, and refugees and migration.

The DPRK has partially and belatedly met its reporting obligations under the various conventions to which it is a party. A national Human Rights Committee was established in 1992, but appears to function only sporadically. It is not independent from government.

Although a limited relaxation of economic controls has taken place in recent years, punishment can be severe for those who transgress established norms, regulations and laws. Information is anecdotal and sometimes out-dated, as the main source is defectors who may spend several years in China before their eventual resettlement to the ROK. Hence, it is difficult to accurately assess numbers involved. But it seems likely that a very large number of individuals have suffered and are suffering from practices that represent extremely serious violations of their human rights. DPRK practices the death penalty, and there are credible, recent reports of public executions, but there is no authoritative information on the extent of its use. The penal code, which was revised in 2004, contains provisions for the death penalty for ill-defined crimes such as 'counter revolutionary activity'.

Numerous reports exist concerning the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading forms of treatment or punishment. Information by defectors also indicates that a system of forced labour camps remains in operation. Conditions in these camps are extremely harsh and the mortality rate high. Another type of camp is focused on 'rehabilitation' through labour, where conditions are consequently less harsh, but still represent severe punishment by Western standards.

The DPRK government does not allow any independent domestic organisation to monitor human rights conditions. Requests for visits by international human rights organisations have been largely ignored. One visit by Amnesty International was allowed in 1996. The resulting report was regarded as hostile and Amnesty has not been able to visit again.

The EU has been monitoring the human rights situation in North Korea closely since the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) met in 2002 (see the section on DPRK's relations with the EU, above). The UK supported the annual resolutions on DPRK adopted by UNCHR and subsequently the Human Rights Council since 2003. The EU further tabled resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly in November 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 urging DPRK compliance with the international community's concerns including access for the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights. The UK takes every opportunity to emphasise this message to the DPRK authorities, both at Ministerial and official levels.