Executions in North Korea increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG).From January 2020 to the end of 2024, at least 153 people were executed or sentenced to death, a sharp rise from 44 executions in the five years prior.The surge in executions followed the closure of North Korea's borders in 2020.The TJWG report highlights that offenses related to religion, superstition, and foreign cultural content, including South Korean dramas and pop music, were among the most common reasons for executions.The report notes that executions had declined between 2015 and 2019 amid... [Continue Reading]