We are pleased that a report we authored for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), titled "Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism and the Right to Freedom of Religion, Thought, and Conscience in North Korea," has significantly contributed to its 2024 annual report. The report, accessible here, outlines the reality faced by individuals in the DPRK who are persecuted for their religious or belief identities.
Our research established that the systematic violation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion (Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) is driven by the Workers’ Party of Korea’s centrally organised efforts to enforce an ideology known as Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism across state and society. At the same time as the systematic enforcement of this ideology violates the right to freedom of religion or belief, the enforcement is closely related to the denial of other fundamental human rights.
The DPRK continues to maintain robust accountability mechanisms for prioritising the enforcement of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism. This indicates bleak near-term prospects for religious freedom and other closely related rights in the DPRK. There is little evidence so far to suggest that the situation has improved since 2014, when a UN Commission of Inquiry found “an almost complete denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.” Documentation of ongoing violations, or the ‘crime base’, is therefore crucial for the pursuit of accountability, diplomacy, and effective policy development.
Korea Future remains committed to advocating for the rights and freedoms of all North Koreans. We will continue to provide critical research and support international efforts aimed at improving human rights conditions and enabling accountability in the DPRK.
