North Korea

North Korea is in a category of its own when it comes to human rights violations. It is a totalitarian state where tens of thousands of people are enslaved and tortured.

All forms of freedom of expression are repressed and anyone attempting to assert their rights is crushed. In North Korea, where failing to show sufficient reverence for the country's leaders is a serious offence, no one is safe from arrest and imprisonment.

Country profile

North Korea country profile

Under its leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea is violating every conceivable human right.

The government represses all forms of freedom of expression and opinion and does not allow any organised political opposition, independent media, free trade unions, civil society organisations, or religious freedom.

North Korea: Is change really around the corner?

At a time when the notoriously secretive state may be open to dialogue and senior officials are willing to talk about big issues such as nuclear weapons, could there be a permanent shift for North Korea?

North Korea: The Other Interview

Hear one defector tell her true story of escaping the horrors of life in North Korea only for the Chinese authorities to force her to return.

Rather than provide Park Ji-hyun with shelter, China handed her back to North Korea – where she faced torture, hard labour and starvation.

North Korea: UN meeting must send ‘unequivocal message’ on human rights

'The UN Security Council must use today’s meeting to send an unequivocal message to the North Korean authorities that human rights violations must end' - Sherine Tadros

North Korea: Costly military parade planned despite hunger and widespread abuses

'Anyone deemed to act in a manner that is threatening to Kim Jong-un’s government risks being imprisoned for life or could even face execution' - Boram Jang

North Korea: International isolation is putting lives at risk as Covid-19 hits

Responding to North Korean state media declaring a “maximum national emergency” after the country’s first officially reported Covid-19 outbreak, Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Boram Jang said:

“There is no evidence to show that North Korea has access to enough vaccines to protect its population from Covid-19. Yet, it has rejected millions of doses of AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines offered by the WHO-led COVAX programme, a global Covid-19 vaccine distribution mechanism which requires transparent distribution and monitoring."

Trump’s new travel ban cannot stand in any form

The US resumes its policy of going against the basic values of decency and dignity when it comes to helping oppressed people.

North Korea, the surveillance state

The famously secretive and isolated state is severely punishing citizens who try to reach out and connect with the world beyond North Korea.

Phones and computers connecting to the internet and allowing international calls are banned. When people take risks and try to break the censors, the repercussions can be huge.

China must stop returning people to North Korea

North Koreans are not allowed to travel abroad without state permission - an act viewed as treason and punishable by death. Despite the risks many do try and escape only to be illegally returned by China.

UN report exposes North Korea human rights abuses

UN investigation exposes mass starvation, hundreds of thousands of people 'disappearing' and horrific tales of widespread public execution, torture and slavery - all at the hands of the North Korean government.

North Korea: The inside story

Watch a prison guard speaking publicly for the first time about detainees being forced to dig their own graves and women being raped by visiting officials.

We also have harrowing testimony from former prisoners talking about their ordeals.