Public Executions for Cell Phone Use on the Rise

North Koreans are officially banned from communicating with the outside world and using cell phones in North Korea.

Recently, there has been an increase in executions of North Koreans who are caught using or possessing cell phones.

The North has been struggling to prevent outside information from seeping into the country and believes the influx of information could possibly lead to the overthrow of the reclusive regime.

“The North carries out public executions regularly to maintain social order by creating an atmosphere of fear,”

Even with the recent increase of executions, North Korea has actually reduced it frequency of public executions due to harsh international criticism.

The communist country insists it does not violate human rights, but it has long been accused of imposing the death penalty for political reasons, holding thousands in prison camps, torturing border-crossers and severely restricting freedom of expression and religion.

(link)

By Sun Tzu on 14-06-2007