A comprehensive analysis of the human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Abstract

It has been proven that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, is one of the worlds’ most restrictive governments. Several resolutions have been passed in response to these infractions. Aside from the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also expressed concern over this issue. The right to life is regarded as the most fundamental and basic right. It should be emphasized that the death penalty is one of the most common violations of the right to life. Time and time again, it has been established that this punishment has been invoked in cases where the crimes did not fall under the category of being one of the most serious. Furthermore, North Korea grossly violates the right to an adequate standard of living. This is because the government has failed to provide for the necessities of life. This right is intertwined with the right to food and the right to healthcare, which both have been grossly infringed over the years. Also, the right to liberty and security of the person is a right which is not guaranteed in the DPRK. As a state, it rarely heeds its Code of Criminal Procedure, particularly when it comes to the imprisonment of a criminal during the investigative and pre-trial stages. Most the detainees were not even provided any documents indicating the decision to detain them. Furthermore, the right to religious freedom is severely restricted within North Korean territory. The government has a monopoly on information and ultimate control over organized life. Religious beliefs are deemed a danger to the loyalty needed by the Supreme Leader, hence religious freedom is denied. Forced labour is a well-established practice in North Korea. A worker in North Korea does not have the right to make a living through freely selected employment, as guaranteed by both the UDHR and the ICESCR. Additionally, in many circumstances, workers would use bribery to be able to work in the private sector.