North Korea executes citizens who distribute foreign TV shows, UN finds

"North Korea has executed people for distributing foreign television shows, including popular South Korean dramas, as part of an intensifying crackdown on personal freedoms, according to a UN human rights report. Surveillance has grown more pervasive since 2014 with the help of new technologies, while punishments have become harsher including the introduction of the death penalty for offences such as sharing foreign TV dramas, the report said."

"The curbs make North Korea the most restrictive country in the world, according to the 14-page document published on Friday, which was based on interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who had fled the country and reported the further erosion of freedoms. James Heenan, head of the UN human rights office for North Korea, told a Geneva briefing that the number of executions for normal and political crimes had increased since Covid-19-era restrictions."

"An unspecified number of people have already been executed under the new laws for distributing foreign TV series, including the popular K-dramas from its southern neighbour, he added. Under laws, policies and practices introduced since 2015, citizens have been subjected to increased surveillance and control in all parts of life, the report's conclusion said. The sweeping UN review comes more than a decade after a landmark UN report found that North Korea had committed crimes against humanity."

Executions have been carried out for distributing foreign television shows, including K-dramas. Surveillance expanded since 2014 with new technologies, and punishments hardened, including the death penalty for sharing foreign TV content. The country is now among the most restrictive globally. More than 300 witnesses and victims who fled reported further erosion of freedoms. Executions for ordinary and political crimes increased after Covid-19-era restrictions, and an unspecified number of people were executed under new laws for distributing foreign TV series. Laws and policies since 2015 increased surveillance and control across all parts of life, and children from lower social levels are sometimes forced into hard labour.

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