North Korea is expanding its list of crimes punishable by death, according to reports. Supreme leader Kim Jong Un’s regime recently expanded the list of offenses warranting the death penalty from 11 to 16 through revisions of the criminal law. New offenses that now warrant execution as a punishment include anti-state propaganda, agitation acts, illegal manufacturing, and the illicit use of weapons. These legal modifications were made through multiple amendments between May 2022 and December 2023, according to a report from the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU). Human rights groups have long been concerned about North Korea’s implementation of the death penalty, as statistics on its use are practically impossible to discern due to the country’s hermetic nature.
In 2020, a law was passed that made the consumption and distribution of South Korean media punishable by death for its “reactionary” and “counter-revolutionary” associations. Other behaviors considered “reactionary” that could result in punishment include wearing outside fashion such as white wedding dresses, blue jeans, or sunglasses. Outside slang terms from South Korea are also reportedly banned in written communications. In addition to the death penalty, other severe punishments for behavior deemed anti-social include prison camps and forced re-education. These drastic measures are intended to strengthen the Kim regime’s control over the population by maintaining a monopoly on the marketplace and military.
The tightening of the criminal code is part of North Korea’s efforts to consolidate power and strengthen its grip over the population. Kim Jong Un has recently expressed his intention to further develop the country’s nuclear capabilities as a deterrent mechanism. At a state event celebrating North Korea’s 76th anniversary, Kim Jong Un promised to refine the country’s weapons development and strengthen its nuclear force. The leader warned that increased involvement from the United States in the region has forced the regime to pursue more powerful weapons to ensure the state’s security. In response, the regime plans to steadily strengthen its nuclear force to fully cope with any threatening acts from rival nuclear-armed states.
The Supreme People’s Assembly, North Korea’s unicameral legislative body, amended the national constitution last year to enshrine nuclear weaponization as a core principle. This move solidifies the regime’s commitment to developing and maintaining a strong nuclear force. Despite concerns from human rights groups and the international community, Kim Jong Un’s regime continues to crack down on dissent and enforce harsh punishments for those deemed to be engaging in anti-state behavior. The expansion of the death penalty for a wider range of offenses is seen as a way to further cement the regime’s control and deter any potential threats to its power.
