On the 26th, the U.S. State Department reiterated its strong concerns over North Korea’s continued execution, torture, arrest, and physical abuse of individuals involved in religious activities, highlighting ongoing violations of religious freedom.
In the 2023 International Religious Freedom Report, the U.S. State Department cited multiple sources and stated, “The situation has not fundamentally changed since the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) report on human rights in North Korea was released in 2014.”
The 2014 COI report confirmed that North Korean authorities severely violated the rights of North Korean residents regarding their beliefs, conscience, and religious freedom, nearly completely denying these rights. In many cases, the government was found to commit gross human rights violations of a criminal nature.
The State Department also highlighted in the report provisions in North Korea’s constitution that religion should not be used as a pretext for bringing in foreign forces or damaging the state or social order. Additionally, it introduced that “the UN Secretary-General reported in 2022 that rights to thought, conscience, and religious freedom continue to be denied in North Korea, and there is no alternative belief system tolerated by the authorities.”
The report also pointed out that despite some easing from mid-2023, domestic travel restrictions due to COVID-19 have further reduced information about the human rights situation in North Korea, making it difficult to verify details regarding cases and allegations of abuses related to religious groups. Citing reports from non-governmental organizations, the report estimated that the North Korean authorities have imprisoned between 50,000 to 70,000 residents for being Christians.
It also cited the International Bar Association’s 2022 report, stating that “Christians in prison endure consistently harsher and prolonged torture compared to non-Christians.”
The report specifically noted that the U.S. government jointly introduced a resolution at the UN General Assembly in December 2023, stating, “The resolution reiterated serious concerns over North Korea’s long-standing systematic, widespread, and grave human rights violations, including executing individuals on religious grounds for expressing opinions and beliefs, thereby violating human rights.”
It further emphasized that “the U.S. government has raised concerns about religious freedom in North Korea in other multilateral forums and bilateral consultations, particularly with countries engaged in diplomatic relations with North Korea.”
The report also introduced the fact that North Korea has been designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom since 2001 and that Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, re-designated it as a CPC in December 2023.
Moreover, the report shifted its focus on China and pointed out, “According to religious groups, NGOs, and international media reports, the Chinese government continues to assert control over religious organizations and restricts the activities of religious adherents perceived to threaten national or Chinese Communist Party interests, thereby limiting individual freedoms.”
The report also introduced claims by NGOs and individuals that Chinese authorities have subjected Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and others to physical surveillance and digital monitoring abroad, as well as harassment, detention, and persecution of their families in China.
Tony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, drew attention during a press conference on the release of the report by criticizing the human rights situation in India. The U.S. has maintained a strategic partnership with India, partly aimed at countering China and other things.
Blinken pointed out, “In India, we see a troubling increase in laws hostile to conversion, hate speech against minority religious believers, and destruction of places of worship and homes.”
Meanwhile, the report introduced issues related to religious freedom in South Korea, including challenges faced by conscientious objectors seeking alternative military service periods due to religious beliefs, and opposition from some citizens in Daegu regarding the construction of a mosque.
The U.S. State Department annually produces and publishes a report on the status of religious freedom worldwide, under the International Religious Freedom Act enacted in 1998.
Furthermore, it also designates countries that systematically suppress or violate religious freedom as Countries of Particular Concern and plans to announce the 2024 designations at the end of the year.
North Korea has been designated as a Country of Particular Concern for religious freedom for the 22nd consecutive year until 2023 (announced in January this year).
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