[NK News] North Korea defends crackdown on foreign media, admits to public executions

12 Feb 2025

On November 8, 2024, NK News published an article regarding North Koreaโ€™s UPR session in Geneva. During that session, the country admitted to carrying out public executions and imprisoning individuals for anti-state crimes.ย 

Hanna Song, Executive Director of the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB), explained that North Koreaโ€™s admission aims to counter claims of arbitrary human rights violations.

โ€œThey want to show that there are rules in place; that detention is not arbitrary and punishments not based on ad hoc decision making, but grounded in a legal frameworkโ€

She also noted the reference to the UN standard for treatment for prisoners, suggesting it is another attempt to polish its international image. However, governments are now taking a tougher stance, particularly in light of Pyongyangโ€™s position on the war in Ukraine.

You can read the full article HERE.