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
- OCTOBER 30, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
REPORT ACCUSES NORTH KOREA OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
North Korea has committed "crimes against humanity" against its own people according to an independent report published on October 30 that made a long-shot appeal for the UN Security Council to deal with the issue.
- SEPTEMBER 22, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. 98% OF DEFECTORS HAVE OBSERVED PUBLIC EXECUTIONS, POLL
results from a survey indicated that a large number of defectors who entered South Korea had witnessed public executions in North Korea more than once.
- SEPTEMBER 20, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. PUBLIC EXECUTION VIDEO AIRED IN JAPAN
Asahi TV, a Japanese television channel, aired video footage of a public execution of a woman said to have taken place in Hamju, North Korea on July 10.
- JULY 12, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. 'PROMOTE HUMAN RIGHTS' IN NORTH KOREA CONFERENCE
the international conference “Promoting human rights and religious freedom in North Korea: where do we go from here?”, organised by Freedom House together with the Transnational Radical Party, was held in Rome.
- JUNE 27, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. THREE PUBLICLY EXECUTED
Good Friend, a support organization for North Korea with news from internal sources, revealed that on May 17th and 19th, public executions were administered on the riverbanks of the Susung creek next to the Sunam market in Chongjin.
- JUNE 15, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
EU. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PASSES RESOLUTION ON N. KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS
the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging North Korea to improve its human rights conditions in a plenary session held at the French city of Strasbourg.
- MAY 31, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. UN RIGHTS EXPERTS URGE N KOREA TO SUSPEND TREASON EXECUTION
a group of UN rights experts called on North Korea to suspend the scheduled execution of Son Jong Nam for alleged treason, saying he was reportedly tortured and sentenced to death without a trial.
- MAY 8, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. RIGHTS PANEL TO LOOK INTO CASE OF NORTH KOREAN ON DEATH ROW
South Korea's state human rights panel said it will investigate the case of a North Korean citizen who is allegedly on death row in the communist country.
- APRIL 28, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR SEEKS TO STOP BROTHER'S EXECUTION
North Korean defector Son Jong Hoon recently received the devastating news from his communist homeland: his brother was sentenced to death on charges of spying for rival South Korea.
- MARCH 18, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. COUNTRY ISSUES DEATH PENALTY DECREE FOR DRUG TRAFFICKERS
North Korea issued a special decree that called for the maximum penalty of death for its citizens involved in manufacturing and trafficking drugs, a South Korean relief group said.
- JANUARY 1, 2006North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
- DECEMBER 16, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS NORTH KOREA RESOLUTION
the UN General Assembly officially adopted a resolution criticizing human rights abuses in North Korea, with 88 votes for, 21 against and 60 abstentions.