Horrifying details have surfaced regarding the severe punishments carried out in North Korea, including instances of prisoners being fatally beaten with a hammer and a pregnant woman being shot.
A recent report by Transitional Justice Working Group has unveiled the occurrences of executions throughout North Korea, highlighting a significant increase in killings during the Covid-19 pandemic. The report scrutinized 144 documented cases of executions and death sentences, involving numerous individuals.
Some of the most appalling incidents involved inmates being secretly executed indoors using blunt objects, while defectors disclosed witnessing the shooting of minors despite official assertions that such penalties are prohibited.
Among the 111 executions with disclosed methods, the majority were conducted by firing squad, with rifles or machine guns being utilized in 107 instances. However, the report also documented rare and exceptionally brutal executions, including two carried out with blunt instruments like an iron mace and a hammer in secluded indoor settings. Defectors also recounted witnessing the execution of pregnant women and minors, contradicting Pyongyang’s claims that such actions are banned.
The report contains images illustrating the scope of the executions, depicting suspected execution sites across North Korea, which include firing ranges near airports, football fields, and remote fields where crowds sometimes gathered to observe.
Nearly three-quarters of the executions were conducted in public settings.
According to the report, the top five areas with the highest number of documented executions were:
1. Hyesan City, Ryanggang Province with 23 executions (20.7%)
2. Pyongyang (province-level city) with 22 executions (19.8%)
3. Chongjin City, North Hamgyong Province with 17 executions (15.3%)
4. Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province with 5 executions (4.5%)
5. Hoeryong City, North Hamgyong Province with 5 executions (4.5%)
Regarding the methods used in executions where details were available:
– Firearms such as rifles and machine guns were the most common, accounting for 96.4% of cases, followed by hangings and executions using blunt instruments.
– The two hangings, occurring in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province, and Chongjin City, North Hamgyong Province, were public executions.
– The two executions with blunt-force instruments were non-public executions, reported by North Korea-focused media.
The report noted a rise in capital punishment following the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly for offenses like consuming South Korean media. Cases of death penalties related to foreign culture, religion, and ‘superstition’ surged by 250% after the border closure.
To access the full report, you can click here.
(Note: The article has been rephrased for clarity and readability while maintaining the original information and context.)
