Surge in Executions in North Korea During COVID-19 Pandemic, Rights Group Reports
SEOUL — North Korea has dramatically increased the number of executions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report by a Seoul-based human rights organization. The findings, released on Tuesday, reveal a sharp rise in capital punishment, particularly for offenses related to the consumption of foreign media and political dissent.
The Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a non-governmental organization focused on documenting human rights abuses in North Korea, analyzed testimonies from hundreds of defectors and cross-referenced them with media reports to compile its data. The report, which covers the period from 2020 to 2025, found that the number of executions and death sentences more than doubled compared to the five years prior to the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic provided the North Korean regime with a pretext to tighten control over its population and the use of the death penalty has been a key tool in enforcing that control,” said Ethan Shin, a researcher with TJWG and co-author of the report. The organization documented 144 known cases of executions and death sentences, affecting several hundred individuals. Approximately three-quarters of these executions were carried out publicly, primarily by firing squad.
Executions for Foreign Media Consumption
The report highlights a disturbing trend: an alarming increase in executions for consuming foreign cultural content. Since 2020, when North Korea sealed its borders in response to the pandemic, the regime has intensified its crackdown on “ideological impurities,” particularly those linked to South Korean and Western media. According to the TJWG, the number of death sentences tied to the consumption of foreign films, television shows, music, and religious materials surged by 250% during the pandemic period.
“The regime views foreign media as a direct threat to its ideological control,” Shin explained. “With borders closed and external influences minimized, the government has used extreme measures to suppress any perceived dissent or deviation from state-approved narratives.” The report notes that even minor infractions, such as watching a South Korean drama or listening to K-pop, have resulted in capital punishment.
Public executions, a long-standing practice in North Korea, have been used as a tool of intimidation. The TJWG report describes how these events are often staged in prominent locations, such as markets or sports fields, and are attended by large crowds, including children. The goal, according to the report, is to instill fear and deter others from engaging in similar behavior.
Broader Crackdown on Dissent
The increase in executions is not limited to cultural offenses. The TJWG report also documents a rise in capital punishment for political crimes, including “anti-state” activities and unauthorized religious practices. The regime has labeled certain religious groups as “cults” and has targeted individuals accused of spreading “superstitious” beliefs. The report cites cases where entire families were executed for alleged involvement in religious activities, a practice that has drawn condemnation from international human rights organizations.
North Korea’s legal system operates under a framework that criminalizes a wide range of activities, many of which would be considered basic freedoms in other countries. The country’s penal code includes provisions for the death penalty for offenses such as “treason,” “espionage,” and “counter-revolutionary activities.” Though, the TJWG report suggests that the definition of these crimes is often vague and subject to arbitrary interpretation by authorities.
International Response and Calls for Action
The findings of the TJWG report have drawn sharp criticism from the international community. The United Nations Human Rights Council has repeatedly condemned North Korea’s use of the death penalty, particularly for non-violent offenses. In a 2022 report, the UN detailed widespread human rights abuses in North Korea, including extrajudicial killings, forced labor, and torture. The report called on the international community to hold the regime accountable for its actions.
“The international community must not turn a blind eye to these atrocities,” said Elizabeth Salmon, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea. “The use of the death penalty for offenses such as watching foreign media or practicing religion is a clear violation of international law and human rights standards.”
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have also urged governments to pressure North Korea to end its use of capital punishment. However, the regime’s isolationist policies and lack of transparency make it tough to verify the full extent of the abuses. The TJWG report acknowledges these challenges, noting that the true number of executions is likely higher than the documented cases.
Defectors’ Testimonies Paint a Grim Picture
The TJWG report relies heavily on the testimonies of North Korean defectors, many of whom fled the country during the pandemic. These individuals provided firsthand accounts of the increased repression and the climate of fear that has gripped the population. One defector, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals against family members still in North Korea, described the atmosphere in the country as “more oppressive than ever.”
“People are terrified,” the defector said. “The regime has made it clear that even the smallest mistake can lead to execution. There is no room for dissent, no room for free thought. The pandemic gave them the perfect excuse to tighten their grip, and they have taken full advantage of it.”
The report also highlights the role of North Korea’s state security apparatus in enforcing these measures. The Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of People’s Security are responsible for identifying and punishing individuals accused of ideological crimes. Defectors reported that informants are widespread, and neighbors, friends, and even family members are encouraged to report suspicious behavior.
What Happens Next?
The TJWG report calls on the international community to take concrete steps to address the human rights crisis in North Korea. These include:
- Pressuring the North Korean government to allow independent human rights monitors into the country.
- Supporting defectors and providing them with platforms to share their stories.
- Imposing targeted sanctions on officials responsible for human rights abuses.
- Encouraging diplomatic efforts to engage with North Korea on human rights issues.
The next opportunity for international scrutiny will come in June 2026, when the UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to review North Korea’s human rights record as part of its Universal Periodic Review process. Human rights advocates hope that the TJWG report will serve as a catalyst for stronger action from the international community.
Key Takeaways
- Sharp Increase in Executions: The number of executions and death sentences in North Korea more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2025) compared to the previous five years.
- Targeting Foreign Media: The regime has intensified its crackdown on the consumption of foreign cultural content, with a 250% increase in death sentences for such offenses.
- Public Executions: Approximately 75% of executions were carried out publicly, often by firing squad, as a tool of intimidation.
- Broader Crackdown: Executions have also increased for political crimes, religious activities, and other “anti-state” behaviors.
- International Condemnation: The UN and human rights organizations have condemned North Korea’s actions, calling for accountability and an end to capital punishment for non-violent offenses.
- Defectors’ Accounts: Testimonies from defectors describe a climate of fear and repression, with informants widespread and dissent met with severe punishment.
As the world continues to grapple with the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation in North Korea serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of authoritarian control. The next UN Human Rights Council review in June 2026 will be a critical moment for the international community to address these abuses and demand change.
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