Story perspectives

North Korea's Executions Surge Under Kim's Repressive Regime

9/12/2025

Summary

Story summary

A UN report indicates North Korea has escalated executions for crimes such as watching foreign films, under Kim Jong-Un's regime.
Since 2015, at least six new laws permit the death penalty for sharing foreign media.
Pervasive surveillance, enhanced by technology, makes North Korea the most restrictive country worldwide.
Public executions are used to instill fear, with a rise in executions noted since 2020.
The report, based on over 300 interviews with defectors, reveals a significant decline in personal freedoms.

History

Historical Context

In 2013, North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un executed his uncle, Jang Song-thaek, to solidify his power. Since then, the regime has enacted laws allowing the death penalty for sharing foreign media, resulting in a 50% increase in executions since 2020. This brutal approach mirrors tactics used by totalitarian regimes, further eroding personal freedoms in the world's most repressive state.

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Story summary

A UN report indicates North Korea has escalated executions for crimes such as watching foreign films, under Kim Jong-Un's regime.
Since 2015, at least six new laws permit the death penalty for sharing foreign media.
Pervasive surveillance, enhanced by technology, makes North Korea the most restrictive country worldwide.
Public executions are used to instill fear, with a rise in executions noted since 2020.
The report, based on over 300 interviews with defectors, reveals a significant decline in personal freedoms.

1 / 2