The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is more isolated from the outside world than at any point in its history, despite building factories, introducing smartphones and mobile banking, and passing new laws, according to the United Nations human rights office.
James Heenan, head of the UN human rights office in Seoul, South Korea, said his team monitors the country from outside because almost no one can enter. Information comes from about 1,000 interviews with direct witnesses, government publications, and satellite imagery.
Heenan described a country where forced labor affects everyone and hunger remains a problem. Every person the office spoke to has talked about hunger at some point, he said. The border with China is tightly sealed, largely stopping illegal crossings that previously allowed people to earn money and return.
The country has thousands of 3G telephone masts and more than 20 types of smartphones available, according to the UN. However, there is no internet access, and technology is used to make surveillance more efficient. Residents face high levels of surveillance at home, work, and school, with the risk of government checks on electronic equipment at any time.
Heenan expressed concern over families separated between North Korea and South Korea, and to some extent Japan as a result of past enforced disappearances. The UN is pushing for progress to allow elderly survivors to meet, a practice that occurred until 2018.