Executions and death sentences in North Korea rose sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the country’s isolation used to intensify repression and tighten control over its population, according to a new report by a Seoul-based human rights group.
The findings, compiled by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), indicate that the number of executions between 2020 and 2024 increased dramatically compared to the previous five-year period. Researchers documented a significant spike in both confirmed executions and death sentences, with figures suggesting that the total number more than tripled during the pandemic years.
The report is based on extensive interviews with North Korean defectors along with analysis of satellite imagery and other independent sources. It identifies dozens of execution sites across the country and details numerous incidents involving hundreds of individuals since Kim Jong-un came to power in 2011.
A key factor behind the increase appears to be the government’s crackdown on foreign cultural influence and dissent. Offences such as watching or distributing South Korean media, as well as engaging in religious practices, became leading reasons for capital punishment during this period, overtaking crimes like murder, which had previously been the most common cause for execution.
The report also highlights a notable rise in executions linked to political crimes, reflecting a broader effort by the regime to suppress dissent during the pandemic. Analysts suggest that the strict border closures and reduced international scrutiny during Covid allowed authorities to carry out such actions with greater impunity.
Another concerning trend identified is the prevalence of public executions. A large proportion of the recorded cases were reportedly carried out in public settings, a tactic believed to be aimed at instilling fear and reinforcing state control among citizens.
The data further suggests that executions were not confined to border regions, where foreign media typically enters the country, but were also conducted in inland areas. This points to the widespread penetration of outside information despite strict controls, prompting authorities to expand punitive measures nationwide.
Human rights experts warn that the situation could worsen in the coming years. The report notes that political executions may increase further if leadership succession plans involving Kim’s daughter move forward, as such transitions are often accompanied by internal purges aimed at consolidating power.
While North Korea has gradually begun reopening after years of pandemic-induced isolation, the long-term impact of the crackdown remains a concern. The findings add to growing international criticism of the country’s human rights record, particularly its use of capital punishment as a tool for maintaining strict ideological and political control.
