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. "There were reports of severe repression -- including imprisonment, torture and execution -- of people involved in public and private religious activities," the report said. Amnesty used published information from various sources including UN and international aid agencies for its report that also addressed systematic food shortages in the country in which it said 40 percent of children reportedly suffered from chronic malnutrition. North Korea also maintained a system of public executions, either by firing squad or hanging, although the frequency of executions may be falling, the report added.