Repression in North Korea has deepened in a number of areas - with increased surveillance, expanded use of forced labor and more frequent executions. This makes it the most restrictive country in the world, according to a U.N. human rights report published on Monday, Reuters reports.
The extensive U.N. analysis comes more than a decade after a key U.N. report found that North Korea had committed crimes against humanity. The new report, covering events since 2014, is based on interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who have fled the country and reported further erosion of freedoms.
Surveillance has become more widespread with the help of new technologies, and punishments have become harsher, including the death penalty for crimes such as sharing foreign television dramas.
"Under laws, policies and practices introduced since 2015, citizens are subject to increased surveillance and control in all aspects of life," the 14-page UN report concludes. "No other population in the world is under such restrictions", the document added.
In response to the UN human rights investigators, the DPRK said it rejected a UN Human Rights Council resolution that authorized the latest report.
The report also found some limited improvements, such as reduced use of violence by guards in detention facilities and new laws that strengthen fair trial guarantees.