Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) - Country of Concern: latest update, 31 March 2014
Updated 21 January 2015
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There has been no significant change in the human rights situation in DPRK between January and March 2014, although a number of developments have confirmed DPRK authorities’ severe lack of respect for human rights and unwillingness to engage with the international community on this issue.
Personnel changes within various organisations suggest that the purge of those related to Jang Song Thaek, the Korean Workers’ Party official executed in December 2013, is continuing. However, lack of transparency means we are unable to confirm what has happened to those who have been removed from their positions, or whether these changes are definitely part of a purge.
Elections to the Supreme People’s Assembly took place on 8 March. British Embassy staff visited a polling station. Their findings confirmed that there was only one candidate per constituency, who had been chosen by electors’ meetings before the actual elections took place, and that the election itself was just to confirm this selection. As explained by a member of staff at a voting station, the election was not to elect a candidate but to celebrate the unity of the people behind the party system. As well as confirming this lack of democracy, the visit also demonstrated DPRK’s capacity to misrepresent events, with their official news agency reporting that British and other diplomats who visited polling stations had been “deeply moved” and stressed that the election system in the DPRK was “very advantageous”. In fact, our assessment was the opposite: the elections were a demonstration of the lack of democracy in DPRK.
On 17 February 2014 the United Nations (UN) Commission of Inquiry into human rights in DPRK published its report. On the basis of the testimony they collected from refugees, NGOs and others, the Commission found widespread, state-sanctioned, horrific violations were ongoing in DPRK, a situation “without parallel in the contemporary world”. While acknowledging it was neither a judicial body nor a prosecutor, the Commission believed its findings constituted reasonable grounds to establish that crimes against humanity have been committed. The Minister for the Far East and South East Asia, Hugo Swire, issued a statement welcoming the spotlight the Commission shone on these shocking human rights violations. He also urged the DPRK authorities to respond in detail to the contents of the report and to address the violations that it documents. UK officials ensured that DPRK was aware of this statement.
The UK played an active role in negotiations on the resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in response to the Commission’s report. We worked with EU partners and Japan to draft and co-sponsor a strong text with clear language on the need for accountability. Officials in Geneva and at British Embassies in UNHRC member states lobbied actively to ensure the resolution gained sufficient votes to pass, despite opposition from a number of countries, including China and Russia.
The final text of the resolution includes a specific request that the UN Security Council consider referral of the situation in DPRK to an appropriate international criminal justice mechanism. The UK has made clear that we believe the International Criminal Court would be a suitable body to investigate the allegations of crimes against humanity. The resolution also includes provisions to ensure follow-up to the work of the Commission of Inquiry by strengthening the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in DPRK and establishing a mechanism to ensure ongoing collection of testimonies and evidence.
Unfortunately, instead of choosing to engage with the UNHRC and address the issues raised in the Commission’s report, DPRK has rejected the report as too biased to be worth considering.
A further worrying development during the last three months was the decision by DPRK authorities to parade South Korean national, Kim Jong-uk, before international diplomats and media. Kim was arrested by DPRK last year on suspicion of attempting to establish underground churches and spying for the South Korean National Intelligence Service. Kim’s treatment demonstrates DPRK’s lack of respect for judicial process, and the continued perception of Christianity as a threat to the regime.
There are reports that up to 33 North Koreans have been sentenced to death for their contacts with Kim Jong-uk. We have raised concerns about these reports with DPRK authorities and requested official confirmation of what has happened to the individuals concerned. We have also called on DPRK to respect the provision in its constitution guaranteeing “freedom of belief in religion”, and reminded them of our position on use of the death penalty. ####This publication is part of the 2013 Human Rights and Democracy Report.