North Korea’s Execution Surge During COVID Lockdown

North Korea increased the number of people it executed after closing its borders to stop COVID‑19. A rights group in Seoul studied 880 defectors and used satellite pictures to locate execution sites. The report warns it is not a final count, but the data show a sharp rise in punishments.

Main Drivers of Executions

• Cultural and Religious Restrictions
  The biggest reason for executions was breaking rules that forbid foreign culture and religion. Watching South Korean dramas or movies, listening to foreign music, or practicing other religions led to death sentences.

• Political Crimes
  Political crimes also grew. The group recorded 28 political executions compared to only four before the lockdowns.

• Traditional Crimes
  Before the pandemic, murder was the most common cause for execution.

Geographic Spread

Executions for cultural violations happened far from China’s border, suggesting that South Korean media reached many parts of the country, not just border towns.

Current Developments

• Reopening
  North Korea is slowly reopening. It approved the return of citizens who had left abroad in 2023 and has restarted passenger trains with China.

• Leadership Transition
  Some analysts think the upcoming succession of Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju‑Ae, could trigger more executions. The new leader might want to remove loyalists of the former king and install her own supporters.

Diplomatic Reactions

Embassies in Singapore, London, and the UN mission in Pyongyang did not reply to requests for comment on the findings.