US: North Korea the Most Repressive Country... Concerns Over Systematic Human Rights Violations in Report

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] On the 12th (local time), the U.S. Department of State defined North Korea as an authoritarian state led by the Kim family in its '2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,' expressing deep concern over the systematic and severe human rights violations occurring in North Korea. It also pointed out that although there are credible reports of numerous abuses by the North Korean regime, the lack of punishment for these acts has become a widespread problem.

Lisa Peterson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State, stated at the press conference announcing the human rights report, "We recognize that North Korea is one of the most repressive authoritarian states in the world." The State Department releases the human rights report annually, and the content related to North Korea this year is similar to that of last year.

This report identified unlawful or arbitrary killings by the North Korean government, enforced disappearances by the government, torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment by government authorities as serious human rights issues. The report noted that North Korea maintained effective control through security agencies such as the Ministry of Social Security (equivalent to the Korean National Police Agency), stating, "There have been credible reports of numerous abuses."

It also cited harsh and life-threatening detention conditions in political prison camps, arbitrary arrest and detention, political prisoners and detainees, politically motivated reprisals against individuals for acts committed in other countries, lack of judicial independence, and arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy as major human rights violations. Severe restrictions on internet freedom, substantial interference with freedom of peaceful assembly and association, serious limitations on religious freedom, and severe restrictions on freedom of movement and residence within the country and the right to leave were also identified as problems. Additionally, the impossibility of peaceful regime change through free and fair elections, serious restrictions on political participation, and severe government corruption were highlighted.

In particular, the report criticized that "the failure to punish human rights violations and corruption continues to be a widespread problem."

Acting Assistant Secretary Peterson said, "We are deeply concerned about credible reports of systematic, widespread, and severe human rights abuses committed by the North Korean government," adding, "We continue to cooperate with the international community to raise awareness of human rights violations, document and preserve related information, and improve access to independent information."

The Biden administration imposed sanctions last December on the North Korean Central Prosecutor's Office and Defense Minister Ri Yong-gil, a former official of the Ministry of Social Security, citing forced labor and human rights abuses in North Korea. This was the first case of sanctions against North Korea under the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly criticized Russia's alleged massacre of civilians in Ukraine and human rights abuses by China in Hong Kong and Xinjiang during the press conference related to the human rights report on the same day, but did not specifically mention North Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.