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. In an annual report to Congress on overseas human rights conditions, the State Department said North Korea's human rights record remained "extremely poor" and said the North Korean government continued to commit "numerous serious abuses." "Reports from North Korea continue to paint a bleak picture of one of the world's most inhumane regimes," the State Department report said. The report also criticized human rights records in China and Myanmar. The report said China continued to deport North Koreans who fled into the country, treating them as illegal economic migrants. Such forcibly repatriated North Koreans have been imprisoned under harsh conditions, with some executed, it said. The report also said an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 people are believed to be held in detention camps in remote areas for political reasons. Conditions in the camps were harsh, with inmates subjected to torture, forced abortions and infanticide, it said.