State Department ‘2022 Country-by-Country Human Rights Report’
The U.S. State Department reported on the 20th (local time) in its “2022 National Human Rights Report” that North Korea violated human rights extensively, including breaking the legs or cutting the Achilles tendon of workers who tried to escape while working in China, Russia, etc., and repatriating them to their home countries. said there is In addition, he introduced a case in which viewers of the Korean drama ‘Squid Game’ received heavy punishment in North Korea, pointing out that “Korean culture is defined as anti-system and severely punished.”
In a human rights report released on the same day, the State Department defined North Korea as “an authoritarian state led by the Kim family,” and said, “There are credible reports of serious human rights issues such as illegal murder and torture by the regime, transnational oppression, and illegal invasion of privacy.” pointed out The Department of State publishes an annual report assessing the human rights situation in countries around the world. This year, 198 countries, including North Korea, were included.
Citing media outlets specializing in North Korea, the report said, “According to a North Korean defector who had experience working in Russia, all workers knew that the ‘repatriation process’ meant breaking the legs of those attempting to escape and sending them in wheelchairs to North Korea.” . “A high-ranking North Korean source confirmed that Choo Gyeong-cheol, a North Korean worker who attempted to escape North Korea, was arrested by the State Security Agency (agents) dispatched to Russia and then repatriated with a damaged Achilles tendon,” he said.
The report pointed out that “the majority of North Korean workers abroad are in Russia and China,” and that “in some regions, fake IDs are used to hire them.” They explained that while working up to 20 hours a day, they received 270,000 to 900,000 won a month, less than half of Chinese workers, and 70 to 90 percent of this had to be returned to the North Korean regime. In addition, North Korea pointed out that even though trade was banned due to the closure of the Corona 19 border, it demanded ‘loyal funds’ from traders ahead of the day of the sun (Kim Il-sung’s birthday) and is forcing loyal funds to North Korean medical staff dispatched to Laos.
The report also introduced tougher penalties for ‘Korean style (Korean Wave)’. The report quoted Free Asia Broadcasting (RFA) as saying, “The man who smuggled squid game into North Korea and sold it was sentenced to death by firing squad, and the high school student who bought it was sentenced to life in prison.” School principals and homeroom teachers have been dismissed.”
The State Department reported on the “profanity controversy” of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September, in the “Violence and Harassment” section of the Korea Human Rights Report. The report said, “When MBC released a video of President Yoon criticizing foreign legislatures, President Yoon said, ‘It could endanger national security by damaging relations with major foreign partners.'” Introduced.
In addition, “the South Korean government used defamation laws to limit public discussion and censor personal and media expressions,” the YouTube channel that reported the so-called “Julie suspicions” of first lady Kim Kun-hee was seized and searched for, and former Minister of Health and Welfare Si-min Rhyu Dong-hun Han said. He cited being sentenced to a fine for defaming the Minister of Justice.
The ‘Daejang-dong Scandal’ was reflected in the ‘Corruption and Lack of Government Transparency’ item this year as well as last year. The report said, “There have been numerous reports of government corruption at various levels,” and the prosecution said in November of last year that former acting president Yoo Dong-gyu of the Seongnam Urban Development Corporation had received 600 million won in election funds from Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myeong. He mentioned indicting the deputy director.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.