International
North Korean Human Rights Crisis: A Global Challenge for Humanity
By Jun Kyu Park
North Korea remains one of the most oppressive regimes in modern history, characterized by its dynastic dictatorship, theocratic governance, and relentless control over its citizens.
The regime’s most insidious human rights violation lies in its manipulation of the collective cognition of its people. By controlling information and distorting reality, the leadership ensures that dissenting thoughts are eradicated through both physical punishment and psychological conditioning.
North Korea operates as the largest prison on Earth, isolating its citizens from external influences and subjecting them to atrocities reminiscent of, and in some cases exceeding, those of Nazi Germany. Loyalty to the regime dictates access to food and resources, with collective punishment imposed on those who challenge the system. Political prison camps, forced abortions, public executions, and biomedical experiments are among the numerous human rights abuses reported.
The rigid, hierarchical structure of oppression has been designed to protect the regime, ensuring that power remains centralized within the Kim dynasty. This system, solidified over three generations, has created a society detached from global norms and basic human values.
The regime’s recent involvement in the Ukraine war highlights its continued disregard for human life. Over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have reportedly been deployed to Russia, raising fears of their fates upon return. Exposed to foreign cultures and external information, these soldiers are unlikely to be allowed back into North Korea alive, as the leadership seeks to prevent the leakage of military secrets and ideological contamination.
Reports suggest that the families of these soldiers have been separated, with no knowledge of their loved ones’ deployments. Any attempt to question the regime’s actions risks imprisonment in political camps or execution. This harrowing reality has been likened to the fate of salmon in the South Korean film Secretly Greatly—destined to perish after their mission.
The plight of North Korea’s citizens transcends the Korean Peninsula. It represents a global challenge, demanding urgent action and collective responsibility. The use of advanced technologies, innovative strategies, and international solidarity is essential to dismantle the world’s largest physical and psychological prison and to liberate its people.
History has shown that humanity can overcome even the most daunting adversities through hope and shared values. The international community must act decisively to address the ongoing human rights crisis in North Korea, one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today.
(By Jun Kyu Park is a Representative of Korea Young Leaders Forum)
