North Korea Executions Surge During Pandemic Lockdowns

North Korea sharply increased its use of executions during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, according to a report by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG). The Seoul-based human rights group documented at least 153 people executed or sentenced to death between January 2020 and December 2024. This marks an increase of 247% from the previous five-year period, which saw only 41 executions.

The report attributes most of these executions to violations of bans on foreign culture and religion, including watching South Korean dramas and movies. Before the pandemic, murder was the primary reason for executions. The number of political crime-related executions also increased significantly from four cases in the previous period to 28 during the pandemic lockdowns.

The TJWG report is based on interviews with 880 North Korean defectors living in South Korea and satellite images mapping execution sites across the country. It cautions that while its findings are substantial, they should not be considered definitive. The group's executive director highlighted that executions tied to cultural violations occurred throughout the country, indicating widespread access to foreign media.

The report found that nearly three-quarters of executions were carried out publicly, often in open spaces such as airfields, riverbanks, and marketplaces, reinforcing their role as a tool of intimidation. The highest number of executions occurred in the early years of Kim's rule, with more than 80 people killed in 2013.

The report suggests that executions may increase as Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, is anticipated to succeed him. Hubert Lee from the TJWG stated that a surge in executions could occur to remove Kim's inner circle and appoint loyalists to support his daughter's succession.