People in Wonsan, North Korea. Editorial credit: Oleg Znamenskiy / Shutterstock.com

North Korea

North Korea is a one-party state led by a dynastic totalitarian dictatorship that regularly engages in grave human rights abuses. Surveillance is pervasive, arbitrary arrests and detention are common, and punishments for political offenses are severe. The state maintains a system of camps for political prisoners where torture, forced labor, starvation, and other atrocities take place.

Iranian people in Izmir protest the death of Mahsa Amini by the morality police in Iran.

Freedom in the World — North Korea Country Report

North Korea is rated Not Free in Freedom in the World 2023, Freedom House's annual study of political rights and civil liberties worldwide.