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
- OCTOBER 31, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
the North Korean regime has launched a crackdown on prostitution, the Daily NK reported.
the North Korean regime has launched a crackdown on prostitution, the Daily NK reported.
- OCTOBER 5, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
South-Korean Grand National Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun reported...
South-Korean Grand National Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun reported...
- JULY 19, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA REPORTEDLY EXECUTES FORMER OFFICIAL
North Korea executed a former Cabinet official over policy failures. Kwon Ho Ung
- JUNE 30, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
the North Korean regime executed the ex-minister of railways...
the North Korean regime executed the ex-minister of railways Kim Yong-sam on espionage charges and ex-finance minister Mun Il-bong over a botched currency reform in late 2009, it has belatedly emerged.
- MAY 15, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA EXECUTES 3 HOUSE CHURCH LEADERS
North Korea executed three Christian church leaders, Asianews reported.
MARCH 12, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: OFFICIALS EXECUTED OVER CURRENCY BUNGLE
North Korea executed two top financial officials in a desperate attempt to quell public anger at its bungled currency revaluation, South Korean news reports and analysts said.
MARCH 4, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTYNORTH KOREA: MAN EXECUTED FOR CALLING SOUTH KOREA
a North Korean has been publicly executed for using a mobile phone to tell a defector friend
- JANUARY 22, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: PYONGYANG EXECUTES THREE ESCAPEES
North Korean authorities have executed three people, sent three other family members to a political
- JANUARY 1, 2010North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
- NOVEMBER 25, 2009North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: EXECUTION LEGAL FOR MINOR OFFENCES
according to a set of addendums to the “DPRK Penal Code” adopted in 2007 that leaked out of North
- OCTOBER 17, 2009North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a South Korean lawmaker said North Korea was still operating six Stalinist-style labor camps...
a South Korean lawmaker said North Korea was still operating six Stalinist-style labor camps...
- JUNE 19, 2009North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a source in North Hamkyung Province said...
a source in North Hamkyung Province said in a phone conversation with the "Daily NK", that North Korea has executed a man in June.
- JUNE 16, 2009North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Ri Hyon Ok, a Christian woman accused of distributing the Bible, a book banned in
Ri Hyon Ok, a Christian woman accused of distributing the Bible, a book banned in
- MAY 19, 2009North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
REPORT: EX-TOP NORTH KOREAN OFFICIAL EXECUTED IN 2008
North Korea has executed a former official in charge of inter-Korean relations,
- MARCH 11, 2009North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA: 76% OF NORTH DEFECTORS SAW EXECUTIONS
seventy-six percent of surveyed North Korean defectors say they witnessed public
- JANUARY 1, 2009North 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, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Daily NK reported on its website that in late February 2008...
The Daily NK reported on its website that in late February 2008...
- DECEMBER 13, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
in Hoeryo'ng, the North Hamgyo'ng Provincial Court pronounced the maximum
in Hoeryo'ng, the North Hamgyo'ng Provincial Court pronounced the maximum
- NOVEMBER 19, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
DEFIANT INMATES EXECUTED AT NORTH KOREAN CAMPS
North Korea’s prison camps hold about 300,000 people and the authorities conduct annual mass executions of inmates seen as defiant, a new group formed by defectors said.
- OCTOBER 23, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UN CRITICISES N KOREA FOR HOLDING PUBLIC EXECUTIONS
North Korea is using public executions to intimidate its citizens, the UN investigator on human rights in the
- OCTOBER 11, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
one of four drug offenders who received an open trial...
one of four drug offenders who received an open trial was publicly executed in North Korea, while the rest received 11 years of sentences.
- OCTOBER 8, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
there was a public execution on five women accused of human trafficking...
there was a public execution on five women accused of human trafficking...
- OCTOBER 8, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
the South Korean aid organization “Good Friends” reported that in early August...
the South Korean aid organization “Good Friends” reported that in early August...
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
three drug dealers were shot in North Korea.
three drug dealers were shot in North Korea.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a person involved in a murder case was shot in North Korea.
a person involved in a murder case was shot in North Korea.
- AUGUST 26, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
two of three offenders of the human-trafficking...
two of three offenders of the human-trafficking...
- AUGUST 12, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
there was a public execution in North Korea...
there was a public execution in North Korea...
- JULY 19, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Lee Duk-ho, a textile factory worker from Eunpa County...
Lee Duk-ho, a textile factory worker from Eunpa County...
- JULY 17, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
the public executions of 14 people suspected of corruption...
the public executions of 14 people suspected of corruption...
- JUNE 15, 2008North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a total of 5 people, including Lee Hong-choon who was...
a total of 5 people, including Lee Hong-choon who was...