Disturbing revelations have surfaced regarding the severe punishments inflicted in North Korea, including instances of prisoners being fatally beaten with a hammer and a pregnant woman being shot.
A recent report by the Transitional Justice Working Group has mapped out executions throughout North Korea, highlighting a surge in killings during the Covid pandemic. The analysis of 144 documented cases of executions and death sentences involved numerous individuals.
Among the most appalling cases detailed in the report are secret ‘indoor executions’ where inmates were lethally attacked with blunt weapons. Defectors disclosed witnessing the shooting of minors despite official assertions that such punishments are prohibited.
Of the 111 executions with known methods, the majority were conducted by firing squad, using rifles or machine guns in 107 instances. However, the report also cataloged rare and exceptionally brutal executions, including cases where blunt instruments like an iron mace and a hammer were used in ‘indoor’ executions. Defectors further recounted observing the execution of pregnant women and minors, contradicting Pyongyang’s assertions that such practices are forbidden.
The report’s included images display the scope of the executions, showcasing suspected execution sites across North Korea, including firing ranges near airports, football fields, and remote fields where crowds sometimes assembled to witness the events.
Nearly three-quarters of the executions took place in public. The report identified the top five areas with the highest documented executions, listing Hyesan City, Ryanggang Province; Pyongyang; Chongjin City, North Hamgyong Province; Hamhung City, South Hamgyong Province; and Hoeryong City, North Hamgyong Province.
Regarding the methods employed, 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 hangings, occurring in Musan County, North Hamgyong Province, and Chongjin City, were public executions, while the blunt-force executions were non-public and reported by North Korea-focused media.
The report highlighted an escalation in capital punishment post-COVID-19, particularly for offenses like consuming South Korean media. Cases related to foreign culture, religion, and ‘superstition’ saw a 250% increase following the border closure.
For a comprehensive read of the report, click here.