On November 24, NK News covered NKDB's latest research report, "Behind Closed Doors," which reveals the command structure of two North Korean ministries involved in human rights abuses, including mass incarcerations, torture, and executions. Based on interviews with North Korean escapees, it details the centralized operations of the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Social Security. This information is vital for holding perpetrators accountable, particularly in potential international criminal court cases. The report aims to provide practical data for legal action and stresses the need for more concrete steps following the 2014 Commission of Inquiry's recommendations on North Korean human rights violations.

Hanna Song, NKDB's Director of International Cooperation and one of the authors of this report, said that identifying the chain of command is essential for accountability efforts and providing legal experts with practical knowledge is required for the successful implementation of the COI recommendations.

She noted that next year marks the 10th anniversary of the publication of the 2014 Commission of Inquiry (COI) report, a landmark publication that documented extensive human rights violations in the DPRK and formally recommended that North Korea be referred to the International Criminal Court. 

But Song said there hasn’t been enough progress on implementing the COI’s recommendations.

“I don’t think we need any more conferences on the COI, but we need more people actually implementing the next steps,” she said.

“If one day some judge or prosecutor decides to look into the DPRK case, how ready are we? As NGOs, we should actively look at how we can prepare,” Song added.

You can read the full article on NK News website by clicking HERE.

To download a full copy of this report, click HERE (English ver.).