2024

Systematic Detention and Specific Treatments of Repatriated Citizens in the DPRK Penal System

This position paper highlights the systematic detention and severe violations faced by North Koreans forcibly repatriated from China, especially women. It details the use of arbitrary detention, torture, and gender-based violence in the DPRK penal system, exacerbated by policies equating freedom of movement with criminal behaviour. The paper proposes amendments to the 2025 UN HRC Resolution to address these violations, emphasising freedom of movement and gender-specific protections

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Guide for North Korean Exiles | October 2024 (한국어)

This guide is designed for North Korean exiles seeking mental health and psychosocial support, whether you are familiar with these services or discovering them for the first time.

Survivor-Centred Justice: North Korean Perspectives | October 2024

This short report explores the justice preferences of over 100 North Korean survivors in the UK and South Korea. The findings reveal a strong call for international legal accountability, trust in the role of NGOs in justice efforts, greater survivor agency, and a need for non-judicial support, including mental health and psychosocial assistance.

State Control and Gender Rights in the DPRK: The Role of the Socialist Women’s Union and the Failures in Preventing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence | September 2024

This policy paper examines the role and influence of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea in safeguarding women’s rights and preventing sexual and gender-based violence. It offers an analysis of the Women’s Union’s structure and activities, identifying significant deficiencies and gaps in fulfilling its legally mandated responsibilities.

Briefing Paper 3: Criminal Proceedings and the Role of the Ministry of Social Security | September 2024

This briefing paper examines the criminal proceedings for “ordinary crimes” in the DPRK, focusing on the role and structure of the Ministry of Social Security in managing and detaining suspects accused of such crimes. It also explores the functions of various penal facilities within this system and analyses each stage of the criminal proceedings to clarify its distinct purpose within the broader criminal justice framework.

Briefing Paper 2: Denial of the Rights of Detainees with Disabilities in the DPRK Penal System | May 2024

This briefing paper presents findings of widespread and systematic violations of the human rights of persons with disabilities in the penal system of the DPRK. It is intended to provide governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society organisations with essential data that can bolster accountability and guide policy development and diplomatic efforts regarding human rights violations.

Briefing Paper 1: Sexual and Gender-based Violence | March 2024

This briefing paper presents findings of widespread sexual and gender-based violence in the penal system of the DPRK. It is intended to provide governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society organisations with essential data that can bolster accountability and guide policy development and diplomatic efforts regarding human rights violations.

Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the DPRK | March 2024

Korea Future submitted a stakeholder report to the UN Universal Periodic Review for its 47th session, focusing on the human rights record of the DPRK. This submission addresses significant issues within the penal system and provides appropriate recommendations to address these human rights concerns.

Joint Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of the DPRK | March 2024

Korea Future submitted a joint stakeholder report to the UN Universal Periodic Review in partnership with Eum Research Institute and UNISEED. The submission highlights critical human rights issues in the DPRK, with a focus on the gender-based violence.

Position Paper 2: Conceptual Developments Concerning Women in Detention in the DPRK Penal System | March 2024

This position paper proposes an amendment to the 2024 UN HRC Resolution to ensure that it urges the DPRK to take all necessary steps to acknowledge and take immediate steps to end sexual and gender-based violence against forcibly repatriated women in detention and to provide information on the treatment of women in detention as a vulnerable group.

Position Paper 1: Evidentiary Developments Concerning Human Rights Violations in the DPRK Penal System | March 2024

This position paper proposes an amendment to the 2024 UN HRC Resolution to ensure that it acknowledges the entire penal system and the widespread human rights violations that have taken place within its facilities.

2023

Progress made on accountability for serious human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the steps required to further advance accountability | December 2023

This submission was made to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK in response to a call for submission. It is based on our experiences engaging with accountability mechanisms and policy advocacy, both internationally and in domestic jurisdictions around the world.

Documenting Sexual and Gender-based Violence in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: Reflections on Survivor-centred Documentation Best Practices | September 2023 (한국어)

This report addresses priorities for civil society organisations in support of their own efforts to document and preserve information on the commission of sexual and gender-based violence using gender-sensitive, trauma- informed, and survivor-centred documentation practices.

The Accountability Imperative: Torture & Ill Treatment in the DPRK Penal System | March 2023

This report builds upon the UN COI’s findings and significantly advances documentation and understanding of widespread and systematic acts constituting torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment in the so- called ‘ordinary’ DPRK penal system.

Preliminary Findings of the North Korean Exiled Community’s Perceptions of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Understandings of Relevant Accountability | March 2023 (한국어)

This report establishes acts perceived to constitute sexual and gender-based violence in the DPRK, a contextual understanding of the structures that frame perceptions of sexual and gender-based violence, and survivor understandings of accountability and the role of survivors in these processes.

2022

Opportunities and Challenges for Exiled North Korean Women in the Human Rights Field | September 2022

This report explores Korea Future's work with exiled women to better understand how the human rights movement and, in particular, grant- makers can deploy their resources to better support the active participation and leadership of exiled women and exiled women-led organisations.

Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism and the Right to Freedom of Religion, Thought, and Conscience in North Korea | July 2022

This report, written for USCIRF, contributes to significant advances in understanding how and why this Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism is implemented across the DPRK and how this presents implications for the deterrence of perpetrators and the pursuit of accountability and justice.

North Korean Prison Database: Volume 1 | March 2022

This report presents findings concerning patterns of human rights violations that have been perpetrated in the DPRK by state agents in state-run penal facilities against detainees. We include four individual cases that shine a light on the devastating human impact of arbitrary mass detention.

2021

Torture and Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Experienced by North Korea’s Religious Minorities | December 2021

This report presents findings of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment experienced by North Korean religious minorities.

Intersections between the Denial of Education & Freedom of Religion or Belief in North Korea | December 2021

This report presents findings of intersectional violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief and the right to education, both universal, indivisible, and overlapping human rights, in the DPRK.

Religious Women as Beacons of Resistance in North Korea | December 2021

This report highlights how North Korean women, motivated by their religious beliefs, play a crucial role in resisting state oppression and promoting human rights within their communities, often facing severe persecution for their faith.

Persecuting Faith: Documenting religious freedom violations in North Korea [Volume 2] | September 2021 (한국어)

This report presents findings of serious human rights violations targeting individuals and communities in the DPRK based on their religion or belief, based on 456 documented cases involving 244 victims and 141 perpetrators.

”We want our stories to be heard”: Barriers to North Korean women’s leadership and participation in the human rights movement | September 2021 (한국어)

This report draws on the experiences of 178 exiled North Korean women to highlight the barriers that prevent their full participation and leadership in civil society organisations focused on North Korea.

Organised Persecution: Documenting Religious Freedom Violations in North Korea | August 2021

This report, written for USCIRF, assesses the organisational structure of religious freedom violations in the DPRK and the associated methods of enforcing compliance, including arbitrary detention, the absence of due process, and torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.