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
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2023North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: 9 PEOPLE PUBLICLY EXECUTED FOR RUNNING BEEF SMUGGLING RING
A crowd of 25,000 people were forced to gather at the airport in Hyesan, North Korea, and made to watch the shooting of nine people.
JULY 3, 2023North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: TWO WOMEN EXECUTED IN S. HWANGHAE PROVINCE FOR WATCHING S. KOREAN PROGRAMS
Earlier this month, two female farm workers in Chongdam County, South Hwanghae Province, were publicly executed for breaking the channel lock on their television and secretly watching South Korean programs, Daily NK has learned.
JUNE 22, 2023North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: FIVE INMATES AT POLITICAL PRISON CAMP PUBLICLY EXECUTED FOR CAUSING A ‘DISTURBANCE’
Five inmates at the concentration camp in the Susong District (otherwise known as Camp No. 25 in Chongjin) were executed by firing squad in broad daylight in mid-May, according to a source in the country on June 19, 2023, speaking on condition of anonymit
- APRIL 2, 2023North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREAN EXECUTIONS AND TORTURE ALLEGED IN NEW REPORT
North Korea executes people for sharing South Korean media, religious activities and drugs as the country stifles its citizens’ human rights and freedom, according to a report published on 30 March 2023 by South Korea.
JANUARY 18, 2023North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER RI YONG-HO LIKELY EXECUTED LAST YEAR
Former North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho appears to have been executed last year, a Japanese newspaper reported on 4 January 2023.
DECEMBER 5, 2022North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: THREE TEENAGERS PUBLICLY EXECUTED
North Korea has publicly executed three teenagers by firing squad – two for watching and distributing South Korean movies and one for murdering his stepmother – two sources who witnessed it told Radio Free Asia.
NOVEMBER 29, 2022North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: DEATH PENALTY THREATENED FOR SPREADING COVID ‘RUMORS’
A notice posted in the North Korean capital earlier this year and seen by NK News this week warns that those who spread “rumors” about COVID-19 and Pyongyang’s quarantine policies could face the death penalty.
- MARCH 2, 2022North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: DAUGHTER OF HIGH-RANKING CADRE ALONG WITH BOYFRIEND EXECUTED FOR WATCHING AND DISTRIBUTING S. KOREAN VIDEOS
The daughter of a high-ranking cadre along with her boyfriend have been publicly executed for watching and distributing South Korean films, soap operas, and entertainment programs.
DECEMBER 16, 2021North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: AT LEAST 7 PEOPLE REPORTEDLY PUBLICLY EXECUTED FOR WATCHING K-POP
A new report from a human rights group has found North Korea has publicly executed at least seven people for watching or distributing K-pop videos in the last decade.
- NOVEMBER 24, 2021North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREAN SENTENCED TO DEATH AFTER STUDENTS CAUGHT WATCHING SQUID GAME
North Korea has sentenced to death a man who smuggled and sold copies of the Netflix series “Squid Game”.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2021North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREAN OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN MURDER, TORTURE, AND POSSIBLE CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE: REPORT
Officials in North Korea carried out murder, torture, and acts that could constitute genocide against certain groups of people, including Christians, a report released last week revealed.
JUNE 8, 2021North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: KIM JONG-UN WAGING WAR ON SLANG, JEANS AND FOREIGN FILMS
North Korea has recently introduced a sweeping new law which seeks to stamp out any kind of foreign influence - harshly punishing anyone caught with foreign films, clothing or even using slang, BBC reported on 7 June 2021.