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
- NOVEMBER 26, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korean state media denounced US based Cable News Network
North Korean state media denounced US based Cable News Network
- NOVEMBER 17, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONCERNED ABOUT N. KOREA RIGHTS RECORD
the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution expressing serious concern about the precarious human rights and humanitarian situation in North Korea, but South Korea abstained and China voted against. The vote was 84 in favor, 22 against with 62 abstention
- NOVEMBER 16, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Rep. Kim Moon-soo of South Korea’s main opposition Grand National Party
Rep. Kim Moon-soo of South Korea’s main opposition Grand National Party
- NOVEMBER 15, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED STATES. US PANEL RELEASES CHILLING REPORT OF NORTH KOREAN RELIGIOUS PERSECUTIONS
the United States government released chilling interviews with North Korean refugees who witnessed bloody executions of religious believers, to highlight suppression of religious freedom in the hardline communist state.
- OCTOBER 24, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
- JUNE 13, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS. UN RIGHTS ENVOY ASKS CHINA TO AID NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES
China should stop repatriating North Koreans who flee their country and give them refugee status instead, Vitit Muntarbhorn, UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, said.
- APRIL 14, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. COUNTRY MUST COOPERATE TO IMPROVE 'ABYSMAL' RECORD, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged North Korea to cooperate with the UN to improve its "abysmal" human rights record and called on China to stop sending refugees back to the Stalinist country.
- APRIL 14, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UN. Commission on human rights urges halt to North Korea abuse, vows international pressure
the UN Human Rights Commission adopted by a large majority a resolution expressing deep concern about torture, public executions, internment of civilians and the "extensive use of forced labour" in North Korea.
- APRIL 4, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
UK. BBC AIRS FILM OF NORTH KOREAN PUBLIC EXECUTION
the BBC broadcast footage purportedly showing the public execution of North Koreans caught trying to flee the country. The videotape obtained exclusively by the BBC was reportedly filmed clandestinely in a village near the North's border with China a mont
- MARCH 29, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
on a bleached and scratchy video image smuggled out of Kim Jong Il's closed regime...
on a bleached and scratchy video image smuggled out of Kim Jong Il's closed regime...
- MARCH 16, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
a firing squad fires a few shots. In the distance...
a firing squad fires a few shots. In the distance, the blurry North Korean figures condemned to die for attempting to escape the totalitarian nation slump over, lifeless.
- MARCH 2, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
an unnamed was executed in North Korea for trying to escape from the country.
an unnamed was executed in North Korea for trying to escape from the country.
- FEBRUARY 28, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT CITES CONTINUED ABUSES IN COUNTRY INCLUDING EXTRAJUDICIAL EXECUTIONS
one of the congressionally mandated 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, released by the US Department of State, painted a grim picture of conditions in North Korea.
- FEBRUARY 28, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH KOREA. TWO HUMAN TRAFFICKERS EXECUTED IN PUBLIC
North Korea put two human traffickers to death in public in late February for smuggling North Korean women into China. The public execution took place in the North Korean city of Hoeryong, close to the border with China.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2005North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea executed about 70 refugees
North Korea executed about 70 refugees
- JANUARY 28, 2005ChinaDEATH PENALTY
a United Nations investigator of human rights conditions in North Korea...
a United Nations investigator of human rights conditions in North Korea...
- DECEMBER 20, 2004ChinaDEATH PENALTY
two North Koreans were forcibly repatriated by China
two North Koreans were forcibly repatriated by China
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that North Korea may be showing a willingness...
It was reported that North Korea may be showing a willingness to improve its human rights conditions when it discussed the issue with a visiting British envoy
- AUGUST 6, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The United Nations announced the appointment of Vitit...
The United Nations announced the appointment of Vitit Muntarbhorn, professor of international and humanitarian law at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in North Korea including reported torture, public
- JUNE 4, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
A United Nations committee expressed its concern about...
A United Nations committee expressed its concern about the conditions of children who had defected from North Korea and were living in China
- MAY 26, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Koreans were deprived of basic human rights by...
North Koreans were deprived of basic human rights by a totalitarian leadership that employs harsh repression for political crimes, Amnesty International said in its annual report
- MAY 10, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The Chinese government systematically hunts down starving...
The Chinese government systematically hunts down starving North Korean refugees and sends them home to face detention in prison camps and possible execution, said Jean Ziegler, the United Nation's special rapporteur on the right to food
- APRIL 19, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denounced as a "US-orchestrated political...
North Korea denounced as a "US-orchestrated political plot" a UN resolution calling for the reclusive state to allow investigations into allegations of torture and human rights abuses
- APRIL 19, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
North Korea denounced as a "US-orchestrated political...
North Korea denounced as a "US-orchestrated political plot" a UN resolution calling for the reclusive state to allow investigations into allegations of torture and human rights abuses
- APRIL 15, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The UN Human Rights Commission narrowly passed a US...
The UN Human Rights Commission narrowly passed a US backed resolution criticizing Cuba and calling on it to accept a visit by international observers
- APRIL 12, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
- MARCH 25, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
South Korea was trying to confirm reports that about...
South Korea was trying to confirm reports that about 100 North Korean refugees at a detention centre in China were on hunger strike to protest plans to repatriate them
- MARCH 8, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Human Rights Watch accused China of shirking its responsibilities...
Human Rights Watch accused China of shirking its responsibilities by seeking to classify North Korean refugees as illegal immigrants and return them to almost certain persecution
- MARCH 4, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
Song Dae Ri, a North Korean defector, thanked Canada...
Song Dae Ri, a North Korean defector, thanked Canada for saving him after it decided not to deport him to probable execution in his homeland
- FEBRUARY 26, 2004North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
The United States accused North Korea of being "one...
The United States accused North Korea of being "one of the world's most inhumane regimes," citing persecution of forcibly repatriated North Koreans and harsh prison camp conditions