North Korea Struggles with Human Rights Repression and Starvation Crisis
North Korea is faced with escalating human rights repression and a dire situation of starvation as its economic conditions deteriorate further, according to the United Nations (UN) rights chief. In the first open meeting on North Korean human rights held by the UN Security Council since 2017, Volker Turk highlighted the increasing desperation among the North Korean people. He stated that informal markets and other coping mechanisms are being dismantled, intensifying their suffering and increasing their fear of state surveillance and detention.
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, initially closed the country’s borders to combat the spread of COVID-19. However, as the pandemic subsided, the government imposed even more extensive restrictions. Guards were authorized to shoot any unauthorized individuals approaching the border, and almost all foreigners, including UN staff, are still barred entry. Turk pointed out that the repression of human rights has intensified, resulting in severe consequences for those found accessing foreign information, especially from South Korea. Viewing such materials can now lead to imprisonment ranging from five to 15 years, while distributors may face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
On the economic front, the North Korean government has heavily restricted markets and other private means of income generation, effectively leaving people struggling to provide for themselves and their families. This has resulted in extreme hunger and acute shortages of medication. Turk also highlighted how many human rights violations directly contribute to the militarization of the country. Forced labor, including that of political prisoners, using school children for harvest collection, and the confiscation of wages from overseas workers, all support the military apparatus and its weapon-building capabilities.
Elizabeth Salmón, the UN special investigator on human rights in North Korea, echoed Turk’s concerns, emphasizing that some people are starving, while others have died due to malnutrition, diseases, and a lack of access to healthcare.
During the Security Council meeting, no action was taken; however, a statement was read on behalf of 52 countries, condemning the North Korean government for its acts of cruelty and repression and their link to weapons programs in violation of Security Council resolutions. They called on all 193 UN member nations to raise awareness of the connection between North Korea’s human rights situation and international peace and security.
While North Korea denounced the US plans for the council meeting, claiming it was driven by geopolitical ambitions, various perspectives were presented during the session. Russia, an ally of North Korea, dismissed the meeting as propaganda and criticized the attempt to link human rights to peace and security.
The situation in North Korea remains critical, with the repression of human rights intensifying and the population facing starvation. The international community continues to raise concerns and call for action to address these violations and protect the well-being of the North Korean people.
