North Korea
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 3
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · A commentary on Korean Criminal Law considers the use...
- News items in the archive
- 257
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
North Korea is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 3 the year before. The archive holds 257 news items on North Korea, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- DECEMBER 16, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA ORDERS BAN ON PUBLIC TRIALS AND EXECUTIONS
Kim Jong Un has reportedly issued instructions to government bodies including the Ministry of People’s Security to ban further public executions.
- OCTOBER 31, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea executed one of its top cabinet officials for disrespecting leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s
North Korea executed one of its top cabinet officials for disrespecting leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s
AUGUST 12, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: KIM JONG-UN STRENGTHENS REIGN OF TERROR
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is said to be strengthening his reign of terror.
- JULY 29, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: PYONGYANG PUBLICLY EXECUTED 6 OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR APRIL DEFECTION
North Korea publicly executed six officials in charge of supervision of its workers overseas in May
MAY 10, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: GENERAL RI YONG-GIL, THOUGHT TO BE EXECUTED IN FEBRUARY, RESURFACES
the North Korean state news media published list of officials newly selected for senior posts, which also
- FEBRUARY 10, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF EXECUTED
North Korea has executed its army chief of staff, Ri Yong Gil, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, which, if true, would be the latest in a series of executions, purges and disappearances under its young leader.
- JANUARY 1, 2016North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
- DECEMBER 28, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: 5 EXECUTED FOR AIDING AND ABETTING ESCAPES
Authorities in North Korea’s Yanggang Province back in September executed five residents for aiding the
- AUGUST 12, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a South Korean media report said North Korea's vice premier was executed by firing squad this year after
a South Korean media report said North Korea's vice premier was executed by firing squad this year after
JULY 12, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: MEDIA CONFIRMS DEFENCE MINISTER EXECUTION
South Korea says North Korea has officially confirmed the purging of its defence chief two months after
- JULY 7, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: FARM MANAGER EXECUTED FOR DEATHS OF DOZEN BABY TURTLES
Daily NK, an online newspaper focusing on issues relating to North Korea, said the manager of a terrapin farm had been executed after Kim Jong-un made his field guidance tour in May to the farm near Taedong River in Pyongyang.
- JUNE 15, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: HYON YONG CHOL'S EXECUTION OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED
South Korean media reported that North Korea had dispatched official bulletins announcing the execution
MAY 17, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: ANOTHER PURGE OF HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS
following the reported high-profile execution of Army chief Hyon Yong-chol, a source said a small number of follow-up purges had engulfed other top ranking officials who were close to Hyon.
- MAY 13, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: DEFENSE MINISTER HYON YONG CHOL EXECUTED – S. KOREAN INTELLIGENCE
The No. 2 leader of North Korea’s military was recently executed as a “traitor” for showing disrespect for its top leader, Kim Jong-un, South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers in Seoul.
- MAY 7, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: OFFICIAL SAYS REPORT KIM ORDERED EXECUTIONS 'MALICIOUS SLANDER'
A North Korean official denounced a report by South Korea's spy agency that leader Kim Jong Un had
- APRIL 29, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: KIM JONG UN EXECUTED 15 OFFICIALS
The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) told the South Korean National Assembly that Kim
- JANUARY 1, 2015North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
DECEMBER 12, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: REFUGEES PARADED IN PYONGYANG, IN A BID TO REFUTE EXECUTION RUMORS
the North Korean regime held a news conference in Pyongyang with nine people it said were the young
- DECEMBER 2, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: DEFECTORS EXECUTED OR SENT TO LABOR CAMP
South Korean newspaper The Dong-A Ilbo reported Park Sun-young, chairman of civic group Dream
- OCTOBER 28, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: KIM JONG-UN PURGED MANY OFFICIALS AMONG FEARS THEY HAVE BEEN KILLED, SOUTH KOREA’S MEDIA SAID
South Korea's Yonhap News agency reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had purged about 10 officials of his ruling Workers’ Party for watching South Korean soap operas. Yonhap did not specify how or when the action was taken.
OCTOBER 4, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM DETAINED AND SCHEDULED FOR EXECUTION AFTER LOSS TO SOUTH KOREA
the official newspaper of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Rodong Sinmun, reported that Kim
- MAY 25, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: KEY OFFICIALS AND ENGINEERS EXECUTED OVER APARTMENT COLLAPSE
the Tokyo Shimbun daily reported that North Korea had deported or executed several officials and
- MAY 22, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: HYESAN MAN EXECUTED AS EXAMPLE FOR REST
The death sentence has been imposed upon at least one person caught making phone contact with South Korea from a location near the Sino-North Korean border, Daily NK has learned via detailed, exclusive testimony from a source in the region.
- MAY 21, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: HARSH PUNISHMENTS FOR NON-VIOLENT OFFENCES ADDED TO CRIMINAL CODE
the Daily NK revealed that the North Korean authorities had added five extra clauses to Article 60 of the country's criminal code, which pertains to attempts to overthrow the state.
- APRIL 8, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY EXECUTED WITH A FLAMETHROWER
Quoting an anonymous source, South Korean newspaper The Chosun Ilbo reported that O Sang Hon, the deputy public security minister, was “executed by flame-thrower.”
- APRIL 3, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: GOVERNMENT PLANS TO EXECUTE 200 SUPPORTERS OF JANG SONG THAEK
The North Korean government plans to execute 200 supporters of Jang Song Thaek and ship their families
- MARCH 5, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: 33 PEOPLE TO BE EXECUTED FOR ALLEGEDLY TRYING TO ESTABLISH UNDERGROUND CHURCHES
South Korean press reported that thirty-three North Koreans would face execution after being charged with
- FEBRUARY 17, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: UN COMMISSION DOCUMENTS WIDE-RANGING AND ONGOING CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
The UN Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) released its report, which has documented in great detail the “unspeakable atrocities” committed in the country, a number of which it concludes are likely to
- JANUARY 31, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a Japanese daily reported that a list of 16 of Jang Song-thaek’s cronies who had been executed was
a Japanese daily reported that a list of 16 of Jang Song-thaek’s cronies who had been executed was
- JANUARY 28, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: PURGE OF JANG SONG THAEK ASSOCIATES CONTINUES
The purge of Jang Song Thaek associates has reportedly continued with the execution of a senior Central