The Oppression of the North Korean People

David Knowles, Daily News, 2013

General Overview

North Korea, located in East Asia, is possibly the most oppressive regime in the world currently. It has been a communist dictatorship for the greater part of the 20^th century and all under the rule of one family, known as the Kim dynasty. North Korean’s undergo several human rights violations; however it is extremely hard to monitor these violations due to the privacy of the nation and countless North Koreas are forced to suffer through horrible conditions with little hope of escape or relief from their oppressive nation.

Famine

One of the most pressing concerns for North Koreas is famine. Food shortages and starvation are not uncommon amongst these people. This is mainly due to poor management of agricultural resources, because all food distribution is controlled largely by the regime if there is a failure in the state-run food markets then famine occurs. These famines are usually shorter micro-famines, which end up forcing families to try and grow their own local food in case of a shortage. This however is disapproved by the North Korean government because it weakens their control over the food market.

In certain parts of the country food shortages are so common that it is not unusual to hear reports of cannibalism. There have been cases of infanticide as a means to acquire meat food. Families are warned that if they do not know where their meat came from that they should not eat it. Mothers are concerned to let their children play in the streets during the night, in fear that they will be abducted and killed to be used as a food source.

Although these micro-famines could be eliminated if North Korea were to open up secondary food trade with other nations, even if it were just as a safe guard. North Korea did receive some relief from the UN and China, however in the recent months due to nuclear threats by North Korea to the United States and South Korea, much of that relief has been cut off. If North Korea isn’t to localize food productions or open up secondary food trade they could be lead into a much more devastating and wide spread food shortage.

Oppressive Society

                Oppression truly is the best word to describe North Korea, the oppression of knowledge, privacy and rights are all issues. Children are educated to believe that their nation is the best in the world, learning much about the Kim dynasty but little of the outside world (H Lee, 2013). This is bringing about a whole generation that is being falsely educated and poorly informed about much of the world.

North Korea is considered one of the most oppressive nations in the world and for good reason. There are ten concentration camps throughout North Korea. Conditions inside these camps are inhuman and hold extremely high casualty rates, some being estimated as high as 25% (T Head, 2012). This is largely due to there being no due process system, meaning there is no justice system and torture, imprisoning and executions can happen at will without any trails. There are also public executions used as a fear tactic to condition citizens and most North Koreas will see their first public executions before the age of ten.

Underground Railroad

With all of the atrocities that happen within North Korea it is clear to see why people would be trying to escape this country. Due to the closed borders exiting this country is close to impossible, especially across the border into South Korea. However many people do try to escape into China, even if it is for a short period of time just to find some food or work. The relief found in China is often little and dangerous. Women can be kidnapped and sold in China to Chinese men looking for a bride, often getting them into abusive relationships that sadly are a better alternative to life in North Korea. Children and men may pick up low paying jobs  for a couple of mouths but because China is still allied with North Korea they gather up escaped North Koreans by the hundred and ship them back to North Korea where they are either imprisoned or executed. Very few North Koreas actually escape, and not even one thousand are recorded to have been successful.

Conclusion

                The North Korean people survive within one of the worst places in the world. Food shortages, poor education, oppressive laws with little regulations and a little hope of escape. Due to the extreme privacy of the nation we only see a few of the potentially tons of violations happening within North Korea. If North Korean policies were to change a lot of these issues could be solved, if no measures are taken then other nations must step up and take action.