North Korea ramps up public executions

North Korea is witnessing an escalation in terror, as the totalitarian state has increasingly relied on public executions, a move by its dictator Kim Jong-un to strengthen his grip over national governance.

According to reports citing an informed source with insights into North Korean internal affairs, the number of public executions has been massively increased. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea saw an average of about 10 public executions annually, but over the past year, this number has surged to an estimated 100 or more.

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea took measures to reduce public executions significantly in a bid to prevent the spread of infections. However, with the pandemic subsiding and human interactions increasing, these gruesome acts have resurged.

"North Korea public executions occur relatively frequently," Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Department of Reunification Strategy Studies at the Sejong Institute, said.

"These executions cover a wide range of cases, including heinous crimes, drug smuggling, and, in rare instances, individuals caught producing and selling prohibited content, including South Korean dramas."

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about strict border controls in North Korea, presenting significant obstacles to smuggling and illicit activities.

However, recent developments have seen North Korea ease its COVID-19 restrictions, resulting in the return of individuals from abroad. This has triggered a notable increase in smuggling activities.

In August, North Korea decided to reopen its border after more than three years of stringent virus curbs, primarily due to economic challenges stemming from its border closure. This decision has led to the return of more North Korean diplomats, laborers and students who were living abroad.

Cheong underscored that North Korea historically has maintained control over its citizens through fear-inducing public executions and noted that the country is increasingly relying on public executions as a means of control.

One particularly chilling incident occurred at the Hyesan Airfield near the Chinese border in Ryanggang Province last month, where a man was executed in front of local villagers on charges of smuggling medical supplies considered contraband.

In August, the same airfield witnessed the execution of seven men and two women, with approximately 20,000 residents reportedly gathering to witness the gruesome event. They were accused of illegally purchasing about 2,000 government-owned cattle between 2017 and this year for resale.

Notably, there have been instances of teenagers facing public execution, particularly for distributing South Korean dramas, music or other content banned under North Korea's law that was enacted in December 2020.

North Korean authorities have even publically executed pregnant women.

There are also reports of unauthorized human experiments from defectors and former prison guards.

The 2023 North Korean Human Rights Report, based on the testimonies of 508 North Korean defectors from 2017 to 2022 and published by the Ministry of Unification, paints a grim picture of severe human rights violations in North Korea and the harsh conditions experienced by its residents.

The report highlights an ongoing pattern of summary executions without due judicial process in North Korean border regions, serving the dual purpose of instilling fear among North Korean citizens and consolidating the regime's control.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Sept. 13. Tass-Yonhap

Disturbingly, some North Korean residents who have been forced to witness these executions have reportedly suffered from fainting, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder. This stark escalation in fear tactics and public executions raises international concerns about the ongoing human rights crisis in North Korea.

Experts suggest that the increase in executions could be attributed to the deteriorating economy, necessitating stringent measures to maintain control over the population.

Yang Moo-jin, president at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies, emphasized, "North Korea's unstable economy, international sanctions and the impact of natural disasters have likely contributed."

There is growing concern among experts that additional executions may be imminent, following the recent actions of Chinese authorities in forcibly returning more than 500 North Korean escapees.

The majority of these individuals, predominantly women, now confront a grave risk of being incarcerated in forced labor facilities, where they could be subjected to torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearance and the possibility of being executed.

Stephen Kim, an underground missionary from South Korea known for his extensive networks within North Korea and China, reported that this deportation operation occurred on the night of Oct. 9.

The newly appointed U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, Ambassador Julie Turner, highlighted the importance of international cooperation in exposing the "terrible" violations within North Korea during her meeting with South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin, Monday.

Ambassador Turner, who officially assumed her role on Oct. 13, was on a three-day visit to Seoul last week, engaging with government officials, civil society organizations and North Korean defectors.

"In the global community, it is imperative that we unite our efforts to expose the regime's grievous transgressions and institute tangible changes to enhance the lives of the North Korean people," she said. Ambassador Turner also underlined that the human rights situation in North Korea remains "amongst the worst in the world."