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
JANUARY 26, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: KIM JONG-UN EXECUTED HIS UNCLE’S ENTIRE FAMILY
the Seoul-based Yonhap news agency reported that all relatives of the executed uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had also been put to death at the leader's instruction.
- JANUARY 1, 2014North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
DECEMBER 12, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: EXECUTED KIM JONG UN'S UNCLE
North Korea said that it executed Kim Jong Un's uncle, calling the leader's former mentor a traitor who tried to seize power and overthrow the state.
- DECEMBER 11, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Japanese media reported that North Korea executed Ri Su-yong, believed to have been the main handler of
Japanese media reported that North Korea executed Ri Su-yong, believed to have been the main handler of
- DECEMBER 9, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: JANG SONG THAEK PURGE CONFIRMED AMID RUMORS OF HIS EXECUTION
Amid rumors of his own execution, North Korean state media confirmed that Jang Song Thaek had been
- DECEMBER 3, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: JANG SONG THAEK DISMISSED, CONFIDANTS EXECUTED
Jang Song Taek, an influential advisor to the Kim family and the uncle of Kim Jong Un, has ‘likely’
- NOVEMBER 11, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: EIGHTY PEOPLE EXECUTED 'FOR WATCHING FOREIGN FILMS'
South Korea’s Joong Ang Ilbo newspaper reported that co-ordinated public executions took place in North Korea, in seven separate cities, earlier this month.
AUGUST 20, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: KIM JONG-UN'S EX-GIRLFRIEND AND 11 OTHERS REPORTEDLY EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD
The ex-girlfriend of North Korean leader Kim-Jong-un and 11 others well-known performers were executed by firing squad, reports said on 28 August.
- MAY 16, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
THE DEATH PENALTY IN NORTH KOREA: IN THE MACHINERY OF A TOTALITARIAN STATE
In a report published today, "The death penalty in North Korea: in the machinery of a totalitarian
JANUARY 28, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: MAN EXECUTED AFTER MURDERING HIS TWO CHILDREN FOR FOOD
A North Korean man has been executed after murdering his two children for food, media
- JANUARY 1, 2013North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners.
OCTOBER 24, 2012North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: VICE DEFENSE CHIEF EXECUTED BY FIRING SQUAD
North Korea's vice minister of the People's Armed Forces was among senior officers
- JUNE 25, 2012North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
N. KOREA: FOUR RETURNED REFUGEES EXECUTED
North Korea has publicly executed four refugees who were repatriated by China and sent 40 others to its notorious prison camps, a South Korean activist said.
- MAY 10, 2012North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: THREE CANNIBALS EXECUTED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS
Yonhap news agency reported that North Korea held at least three public
- MARCH 21, 2012North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
South Korea’s leading daily newspaper reported North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-un
South Korea’s leading daily newspaper reported North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-un
- FEBRUARY 9, 2012North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: PARTY OPENLY THREATENS TO SHOOT THOSE WHO ESCAPE
The death penalty is the right answer for those who betray the people of North
- JANUARY 26, 2012North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
the Telegraph reported North Korea has warned
the Telegraph reported North Korea has warned
- JANUARY 1, 2012North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
- OCTOBER 28, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
the North Korean regime executed at least five of government
the North Korean regime executed at least five of government
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA REDUCES CRIME LIST FOR DEATH PENALTY
North Korea has liberalized its Criminal Code reducing the crime list for the capital punishment
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Free North Korea Radio reported that North Korea executed two homosexuals.
Free North Korea Radio reported that North Korea executed two homosexuals.
- AUGUST 18, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
THINK TANK UNVEILS N. KOREAN COURT RULING ORDERING PUBLIC EXECUTION
South Korean state-run think tank the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) unveiled a North Korean court ruling sentencing a man to public execution.
- JULY 14, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
N. KOREA PURGES 30 OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN INTER-KOREAN TALKS
a South Korean government source said North Korea had reportedly purged 30 officials who
- MAY 20, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
N KOREA PURGES DEPUTY SPY CHIEF
Ryu Kyong, a deputy director of North Korea's State Security Department was allegedly
- MAY 12, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: 60 EXECUTED PUBLICLY IN 2010 - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
About 60 North Koreans were executed publicly in 2010 for acts against
- JANUARY 24, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
N.KOREA HOLDS PUBLIC EXECUTION OVER S.KOREAN PROPAGANDA
North Korea this month publicly executed two of its citizens for handling propaganda
- JANUARY 12, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Chosunilbo newspaper has reported executions in North Korea were increasing.
The Chosunilbo newspaper has reported executions in North Korea were increasing.
- JANUARY 1, 2011North 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 30, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Chosunilbo newspaper has reported executions in North Korea were increasing.
The Chosunilbo newspaper has reported executions in North Korea were increasing.
- NOVEMBER 11, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
four people were publicly executed for petty crimes, reported a North Korean
four people were publicly executed for petty crimes, reported a North Korean