North Korea
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- dictatorial communist state
- CONSTITUTION
- adopted in 1948, revised numerous times, most recently in 2009
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on the German, Japanese systems and inspired by communist legal doctrine
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Central Court, judges elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
RELIGIONS
majority Buddhist and Confucian; minority Christian and others
From the country
- JULY 12, 2026North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: MILITARY OFFICER EXECUTED FOR STEALING RESERVE GRAIN
- FEBRUARY 4, 2026North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: PEOPLE ‘EXECUTED FOR WATCHING SOUTH KOREAN TV’, BRIBERY TO ESCAPE PUNISHMENT WIDESPREAD
North Koreans caught watching South Korean television shows face public humiliation, years in labour camps or even execution – with the harshest punishments for those too poor to pay bribes, according to testimonies given to Amnesty International.
- NOVEMBER 25, 2025North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA EXECUTES 'BIG SHOT' COUPLE WHO BECAME 'ARROGANT' AFTER THE SUCCESS OF THEIR BUSINESS, ACCUSING THEM OF BEING 'ANTI-REPUBLIC'
North Korea has executed a 'big shot' couple accused of being arrogant and anti-republic after the success of their business, Daily Mail reported on November 18, 2025.
- SEPTEMBER 15, 2025North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA EXECUTES PEOPLE FOR SHARING FOREIGN FILMS AND TV, UN REPORT SAYS
North Korea has executed people for distributing foreign media, including television shows like popular South Korean dramas
- JUNE 10, 2025North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREAN ESCAPEES SPEAK AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, DRAWING ANGER FROM PYONGYANG
One North Korean woman described how her father died of starvation. Another said her friends were publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean television dramas. North Korea’s ambassador appeared unmoved. When he got up to speak, he described i
MARCH 17, 2025North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: THREE MEN TIED UP AND EXECUTED IN FRONT OF VILLAGERS
Three North Koreans have been tied to stakes and riddled with bullets in a public execution in front of villagers after they tried to flee the country, Mirror reported on March 14, 2025.
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2024North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA EXECUTES 2 WOMEN WHO FLED AND WERE FORCIBLY REPATRIATED FROM CHINA
North Korea has executed two women who had been forcibly repatriated from China for helping other North Koreans in China escape to South Korea, a human rights organization told Radio Free Asia.
- SEPTEMBER 5, 2024North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA MAY HAVE EXECUTED OFFICIALS OVER FLOOD DAMAGE: SPY AGENCY
North Korea is suspected of executing a number of officials held responsible for devastating floods this year
JULY 15, 2024North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: MAN EXECUTED FOR DISTRIBUTING K-POP, REPORT FROM DEFECTORS SHOWS
A 22-year-old North Korean was publicly executed in 2022 for watching and sharing South Korean films and music, a new report claims.
- JANUARY 21, 2024North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: RARE FOOTAGE SHOWS TEENS SENTENCED TO HARD LABOUR OVER K-DRAMA
Rare footage obtained by BBC Korean shows North Korea publicly sentencing two teenage boys to 12 years of hard labour for watching K-dramas.
- DECEMBER 30, 2023North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: PUBLICLY EXECUTED FOR KILLING A WOMAN WHILE TRYING TO STEAL BEANS
Hundreds of residents were forced to gather at an airfield in frigid weather to watch authorities execute a 23-year-old man by firing squad on December 19, 2023, residents in North Korea told Radio Free Asia.
OCTOBER 4, 2023North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: WAREHOUSE MANAGER EXECUTED FOR STEALING PENICILLIN
A manager at a North Korean pharmaceutical warehouse was publicly executed last month for stealing 20,000 doses of penicillin, sources inside the country said.