Banished For TV: North Korea's Rising Death Penalty For Watching Foreign Media

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-09-12 14:29:44 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-12 16:05:52

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 0

---

The North Korean regime is cracking down on unauthorized viewing of foreign media, invoking death penalties on an unprecedented scale here's what you need to know.

In early May, the United Nations Human Rights Office detailed instances of mounting brutality and harsh punishment meted out by the North Korean regime against its citizens. Among the many horrific accounts of torture, starvation, and forced labor, a key theme highlighted in the report was the increasing use of the death penalty for watching or possessing foreign media, especially movies and TV shows from South Korea, China, and the US.

Recently, a UN report revealed that at least 50 North Korean citizens have been publicly executed for watching or possessing foreign media since 2020. Shockingly, the figure is likely an underestimate, as the true number remains undisclosed due to the extreme secrecy surrounding these cases. Among these cases, at least eight people were executed for merely possessing DVDs of foreign films. It is not uncommon for the regime to punish an entire family for the actions of one member, emphasizing the need for awareness and preventive measures against unintended consequences.

"Citizens who are found to have watched or possessed foreign films, television programmes or unauthorised content face the death penalty ... the number of executions is likely to be far higher than those reported ... he government has also intensified efforts to root out all sources of foreign media imports, including by conducting searches of residents' homes and neighborhoods," said the report.

Despite strict controls and consequences, citizens are attracted to foreign media for its dramatic contrast to the state-controlled propaganda portrayed by the regime. The fascination and allure of the outside world, coupled with the anonymity offered by face-covering masks, has led to an increased desire to watch these films and a growing willingness to risk death to do so.

The heightened crackdown reflects a growing intolerance to outside information, indicating that the regime is fearful of its impact on the population.

Despite assertions that it is a "crime against the state" and that convicted persons will be "immediately executed," many citizens are reportedly continuing to acquire and view foreign films and TV shows.

The fascination with foreign media, seen by many as a form of entertainment, continues to grow as does the risk of an brutal, unjustified punishment.

Given the increased scrutiny and tightened control of domestic media by the regime, it appears that the allure of foreign films and TV shows will continue to yield tragic consequences for many citizens.

Go!