🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 73 (from laksa000)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa073.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/09/12/north-korea-restrictive-control-report/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/09/12/north-korea-restrictive-control-report/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/09\/12\/north-korea-restrictive-control-report\/","crawl_time":1776332216,"first_indexed_time":1757689509,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,rfa!www,\/english\/korea\/2025\/09\/12\/north-korea-restrictive-control-report\/ s443","src_root_hash":"17839135087589999273","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"North Koreans have grown more repressed, fearful in the past decade, U.N. report says – Radio Free Asia","meta_descriptions":["“No other population is under such restrictions in today’s world,” human rights researchers said."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"North Korea is the most restrictive country in the world, with the government tightening control over its citizens, intensifying surveillance and unleashing torrents of propaganda, according to a sweeping United Nations report released on Friday.\nThe\n14-page report\n, published by the U.N.’s Human Rights Office, covers developments in the country since 2014 and draws detail from interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who had left the country.\nInterviewees said that government control had seeped into “all parts of life,” the report said.\n“To block the people’s eyes and ears, they strengthened the crackdowns. It was a form of control aimed at eliminating even the smallest signs of dissatisfaction or complaint,” one escapee said, according to the report.\nThe death penalty is “more widely allowed by law and implemented in practice,” the report said. State policies have exacerbated food scarcity. Access to information is more restricted than it was a decade ago, with severe new punishments including the death penalty for acts including the sharing of foreign media. Forced labor has increased, and people are less able to bribe their way out of arbitrary punishments.\nThe report also listed a few improvements, including a strengthening of fair-trial guarantees and increased engagement with international human rights bodies.\nThe North Korean government told investigators that it rejected the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that authorized the report.\nReports from RFA Korean earlier this year detailed some of the circumstances described in the report. In May, sources told RFA that North Korean authorities had distributed high-performance handheld radio signal detectors to border security agents in an effort to\nblock residents from making phone calls\nto South Korea.\nSupply shortages and\nsurging inflation\ncaused some residents to need to carry a backpack full of cash just to go shopping, RFA Korean reported in April. In March, residents said that North Korean soldiers were so cash-strapped that they were\nselling their gear\nto buy food.\nIn May,\ntwo North Korean escapees\ndescribed for the U.N. General Assembly experiences like watching family members die from starvation or seeing friends publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean TV dramas.\nIncreased government controls were believed to be behind\na sharp decline in defections\nlast year, according to a U.N. report in March.\nIncludes reporting from Reuters.","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/09\/12\/north-korea-restrictive-control-report\/#main)\n\n[![Radio Free Asia logo](https:\/\/static.themebuilder.aws.arc.pub\/radiofreeasia\/1662642260979.png)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/ \"Radio Free Asia logo\")\n\nSections\n\nSectionsSections\n\n[![Radio Free Asia logo](https:\/\/static.themebuilder.aws.arc.pub\/radiofreeasia\/1662642260979.png)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/ \"Radio Free Asia logo\")\n\n[普通话Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/mandarin)[粤语Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/cantonese)[မြန်မာOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/burmese)[한국어Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/korean)[ລາວOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/lao)[ខ្មែរOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/khmer)[བོད་སྐད།Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/tibetan)[ئۇيغۇرOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/uyghur)[Tiếng ViệtOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/vietnamese)[EnglishOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english)\n\nSearch\n\nSearch\n\nClose\n\n[普通话Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/mandarin)[粤语Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/cantonese)[မြန်မာOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/burmese)[한국어Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/korean)[ລາວOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/lao)[ខ្មែរOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/khmer)[བོད་སྐད།Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/tibetan)[ئۇيغۇرOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/uyghur)[Tiếng ViệtOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/vietnamese)[EnglishOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english)\n***\n\n- [Cambodia](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/cambodia\/)\n- [China](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/china\/)\n- [Laos](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/laos\/)\n- [Myanmar](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/myanmar\/)\n- [North Korea](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/)\n- [Tibet](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/tibet\/)\n- [Uyghur](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/uyghur\/)\n- [Vietnam](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/vietnam\/)\n- [Pacific](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/pacific\/)\n- [South China Sea](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/south-china-sea\/)\n- [Environment](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/environment\/)\n- [Asia Fact Check Lab](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/factcheck\/)\n- [Cartoon](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/cartoon\/)\n- [Special report](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/special-reports\/)\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/video\/)\n- [Opinion](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/opinion\/)\n- [About RFA](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/)\n  \n  Show About RFA sub sections\n  - [Who We Are](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/leadership\/)\n  - [Press Room](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/releases)\n  - [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/contact-us\/)\n  - [Jobs and InternshipsOpens in new window](https:\/\/careers-rfacareers.icims.com\/jobs\/)\n\n# North Koreans have grown more repressed, fearful in the past decade, U.N. report says\n## “No other population is under such restrictions in today’s world,” human rights researchers said.\n\nBy RFA staff\n\n2025\\.09.12\n\n![Social media sharing button](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/pf\/resources\/static\/Social_logos_Share.png?d=150)\n\n![This Sept. 9, 2025, photo released by the North Korean government shows residents gathering at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang.](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/7GTPO6PAK5EQBMP3OKYCVNZWMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c0eea1578dbd4bef37817b6346d2861e2525f1633f840a2989b32d3f3adc6f68&width=5315&height=3543)\n\nThis Sept. 9, 2025, photo released by the North Korean government shows residents gathering at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang. (AFP)\n\nNorth Korea is the most restrictive country in the world, with the government tightening control over its citizens, intensifying surveillance and unleashing torrents of propaganda, according to a sweeping United Nations report released on Friday.\n\nThe [14-page report](https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-09\/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf \"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-09\/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf\"), published by the U.N.’s Human Rights Office, covers developments in the country since 2014 and draws detail from interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who had left the country.\n\nInterviewees said that government control had seeped into “all parts of life,” the report said.\n\n“To block the people’s eyes and ears, they strengthened the crackdowns. It was a form of control aimed at eliminating even the smallest signs of dissatisfaction or complaint,” one escapee said, according to the report.\n\nThe death penalty is “more widely allowed by law and implemented in practice,” the report said. State policies have exacerbated food scarcity. Access to information is more restricted than it was a decade ago, with severe new punishments including the death penalty for acts including the sharing of foreign media. Forced labor has increased, and people are less able to bribe their way out of arbitrary punishments.\n\nThe report also listed a few improvements, including a strengthening of fair-trial guarantees and increased engagement with international human rights bodies.\n\nThe North Korean government told investigators that it rejected the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that authorized the report.\n\nReports from RFA Korean earlier this year detailed some of the circumstances described in the report. In May, sources told RFA that North Korean authorities had distributed high-performance handheld radio signal detectors to border security agents in an effort to [block residents from making phone calls](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/20\/north-korea-phone-detectors\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/20\/north-korea-phone-detectors\/\") to South Korea.\n\nSupply shortages and [surging inflation](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/04\/03\/north-korea-inflation\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/04\/03\/north-korea-inflation\/\") caused some residents to need to carry a backpack full of cash just to go shopping, RFA Korean reported in April. In March, residents said that North Korean soldiers were so cash-strapped that they were [selling their gear](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/15\/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/15\/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear\/\") to buy food.\n\nIn May, [two North Korean escapees](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/21\/north-korea-un-defectors\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/21\/north-korea-un-defectors\/\") described for the U.N. General Assembly experiences like watching family members die from starvation or seeing friends publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean TV dramas.\n\nIncreased government controls were believed to be behind [a sharp decline in defections](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/21\/north-korea-defector-un-report\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/21\/north-korea-defector-un-report\/\") last year, according to a U.N. report in March.\n\n**Includes reporting from Reuters.**\n\n## Related Stories\nPrevious\n\n[![North Korean escapees speak at UN General Assembly, drawing anger from Pyongyang](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/NP2AO7SSFNBPLBZ7SJU4VBLPOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fed5da0499eb66fa3b752adfc89133df37d1f0e920f71ef637c4314c40ffd6bf&width=6000&height=4000)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/21\/north-korea-un-defectors\/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-21-north-korea-UN-defectors:story_page:1of3:13of14)\n\n[North Korean escapees speak at UN General Assembly, drawing anger from Pyongyang](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/21\/north-korea-un-defectors\/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-21-north-korea-UN-defectors:story_page:1of3:13of14)\n\n[![North Korea deploys handheld signal detectors to crack down on cross-border calls](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/LUJ6TYZUHZHD3ABEXN2M5XVI2E.JPG?smart=true&auth=b99d54e509e1f5283692494cfadd1fc269bca18b8c764261896eb4bbbddda6d7&width=4000&height=2667)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/20\/north-korea-phone-detectors\/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-20-North-korea-phone-detectors:story_page:2of3:13of14)\n\n[North Korea deploys handheld signal detectors to crack down on cross-border calls](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/20\/north-korea-phone-detectors\/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-20-North-korea-phone-detectors:story_page:2of3:13of14)\n\n[![North Korean defector numbers plunge amid Pyongyang’s strict control: UN report](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/Y24SXQSK35ETJF4UIKRAJOIVAI.JPG?smart=true&auth=1480ecfed0012305fcd6840dbff34db54f5045e1ad717a4756ab7f5ff2942d0f&width=2894&height=1929)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/21\/north-korea-defector-un-report\/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-03-21-north-korea-defector-un-report:story_page:3of3:13of14)\n\n[North Korean defector numbers plunge amid Pyongyang’s strict control: UN report](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/21\/north-korea-defector-un-report\/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-03-21-north-korea-defector-un-report:story_page:3of3:13of14)\n\nNext\n\n## MORE  Korea\n[![](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/KHFKDD62HRFQ5H3NLEQWCWDTRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fabefbe4ae957a45230555b687b242af9784d803ef02dbacd0bad5f7fa67902&width=274&height=182)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2026\/03\/26\/north-korea-hacking-employment-scheme\/)\n\n[North Korean hackers offer \\$70,000 per month to be their front](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2026\/03\/26\/north-korea-hacking-employment-scheme\/)\n***\n[Photos: North Korea shows off new intercontinental missile at military parade](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/10\/11\/north-korea-icbm-hwasong-20-missile\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/NA3MEG474JBTRKK5D6A5D2NIBA.JPG?focal=1530%2C806&auth=51a2fa85589e10166c8a95f04b867f9fafc8c418ebc2cd05d3ccfbf33ac19815&width=274&height=274)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/10\/11\/north-korea-icbm-hwasong-20-missile\/)\n***\n[North Korean soldiers who fought with Russian troops against Ukraine celebrated](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/10\/10\/north-korea-russia-workers-party-anniversary\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/PIJZAH443NH4LBWCVYTCIBPXRA.jpg?focal=2088%2C1407&auth=716377c44b385cffdf74d44039afa8cb09ea432c6966a37e3e1f4abf7aaba1b3&width=274&height=274)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/10\/10\/north-korea-russia-workers-party-anniversary\/)\n***\n[‘This is fake’ — How North Korea uses AI and deepfakes as a weapon](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/09\/29\/north-korea-deepfake-ai-hackers\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/6HN7QUX5WBGQNPHKGDK5TS4WYM.jpg?focal=3014%2C1926&auth=0aa141f6b2d13cd188e5c45975c2f36071188c28ce0336872f8826dbf0a5149d&width=274&height=274)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/09\/29\/north-korea-deepfake-ai-hackers\/)\n***\n[Kim open to talks if U.S. drops denuclearization demand](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/09\/22\/kim-trump-talks-north-korea\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/CSGXP5AE4BHUFK7ZRBCJMUPBJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=874f4e05ae5d1502122f17e1688a2b7b77539714430b637247459f86b40d2c4b&width=274&height=274)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/09\/22\/kim-trump-talks-north-korea\/)\n\n## MOST READ  RFA\n[![](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/resizer\/v2\/AC7QNARIDFECTJZE2TOBLVJ4MI.jpg?focal=1697%2C1485&auth=2d8d3db84730c3ee0c0fe58290dbe07978058c0b25a4bde02a7671618cdf23a2&width=274&height=182)](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/southchinasea\/2026\/04\/10\/philippines-fuel-depot-south-china-sea\/)\n\n1\\.\n\n[US to set up Philippines fuel depot in support of its South China Sea operations](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/southchinasea\/2026\/04\/10\/philippines-fuel-depot-south-china-sea\/)\n***\n2\\.\n\n[Japan’s combat role in Philippines war games signals shift in regional strategy](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/southchinasea\/2026\/04\/08\/japan-philippines-military-exercise-balikatan\/)\n***\n3\\.\n\n[PNG-Australia defense treaty creates jobs, risks amid rising China influence](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/pacific\/2026\/04\/07\/papua-new-guinea-australia-pukpuk-treaty\/)\n***\n4\\.\n\n[North Korean hackers offer \\$70,000 per month to be their front](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2026\/03\/26\/north-korea-hacking-employment-scheme\/)\n***\n5\\.\n\n[Does a video show a Chinese official’s authority over Israeli leader?](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/factcheck\/2024\/11\/18\/afcl-china-israel-video\/)\n\n## Topics\n- [Cambodia](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/cambodia\/)\n- [China](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/china\/)\n- [Laos](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/laos\/)\n- [Myanmar](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/myanmar\/)\n- [North Korea](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/)\n- [Tibet](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/tibet\/)\n- [Uyghur](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/uyghur\/)\n- [Vietnam](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/vietnam\/)\n- [Pacific](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/pacific\/)\n- [South China Sea](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/south-china-sea\/)\n- [Environment](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/environment)\n- [Asia Fact Check Lab](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/factcheck)\n\n## Languages\n- [普通话Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/mandarin)\n- [粤语Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/cantonese)\n- [မြန်မာOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/burmese)\n- [한국어Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/korean)\n- [ລາວOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/lao)\n- [ខ្មែរOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/khmer)\n- [བོད་སྐད།Opens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/tibetan)\n- [ئۇيغۇرOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/uyghur)\n- [Tiếng ViệtOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/vietnamese)\n- [EnglishOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english)\n\n## More\n- [Cartoon](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/cartoon\/)\n- [Opinion](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/opinion\/)\n- [Special report](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/special-reports\/)\n- [E-books](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/bookshelf\/)\n- [Archives](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/story_archive\/)\n\n## Listen\n- [Podcast](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/insider\/)\n\n## Watch\n- [Video](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/video)\n- [Photo galleries](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/gallery\/)\n\n## Subscribe\n- [RSS](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/arc\/outboundfeeds\/english\/rss\/)\n- [Email Alerts](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/subscribe\/email-alerts\/)\n\n## Find Us\n- [YouTubeOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/RFAVideo)\n- [FacebookOpens in new window](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RFAEnglish)\n- [TwitterOpens in new window](https:\/\/twitter.com\/RadioFreeAsia)\n- [Bypass Censorship](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/web_access\/)\n- [Sitemap](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/arc\/outboundfeeds\/english\/sitemap-news\/)\n- [Send Us Your News](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/send_news_form\/)\n\n## About RFA\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/)\n- [Our Mission](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/mission\/)\n- [Terms of Use](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/terms-of-use\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/privacy-policy\/)\n- [Cookie Policy](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/cookie-policy\/)\n- [Code of Ethics](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/codeofethics\/)\n- [CareersOpens in new window](https:\/\/careers-rfacareers.icims.com\/jobs\/)\n- [Contact Us](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/about\/contact-us\/)\n\n## Contact Us\n- Address\n  Radio Free Asia2025 M Street NWSuite 300Washington, DC20036 USA\n- Email\n  contact@rfa.org\n\n© 2026 Radio Free Asia\n\n[search by queryly](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/)\n\n[Advanced Search]()\n\n![close](https:\/\/www.queryly.com\/images\/whitecloseicon.png)","attrs_readable_markdown":"North Korea is the most restrictive country in the world, with the government tightening control over its citizens, intensifying surveillance and unleashing torrents of propaganda, according to a sweeping United Nations report released on Friday.\n\nThe [14-page report](https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-09\/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf \"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2025-09\/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf\"), published by the U.N.’s Human Rights Office, covers developments in the country since 2014 and draws detail from interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who had left the country.\n\nInterviewees said that government control had seeped into “all parts of life,” the report said.\n\n“To block the people’s eyes and ears, they strengthened the crackdowns. It was a form of control aimed at eliminating even the smallest signs of dissatisfaction or complaint,” one escapee said, according to the report.\n\nThe death penalty is “more widely allowed by law and implemented in practice,” the report said. State policies have exacerbated food scarcity. Access to information is more restricted than it was a decade ago, with severe new punishments including the death penalty for acts including the sharing of foreign media. Forced labor has increased, and people are less able to bribe their way out of arbitrary punishments.\n\nThe report also listed a few improvements, including a strengthening of fair-trial guarantees and increased engagement with international human rights bodies.\n\nThe North Korean government told investigators that it rejected the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that authorized the report.\n\nReports from RFA Korean earlier this year detailed some of the circumstances described in the report. In May, sources told RFA that North Korean authorities had distributed high-performance handheld radio signal detectors to border security agents in an effort to [block residents from making phone calls](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/20\/north-korea-phone-detectors\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/20\/north-korea-phone-detectors\/\") to South Korea.\n\nSupply shortages and [surging inflation](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/04\/03\/north-korea-inflation\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/04\/03\/north-korea-inflation\/\") caused some residents to need to carry a backpack full of cash just to go shopping, RFA Korean reported in April. In March, residents said that North Korean soldiers were so cash-strapped that they were [selling their gear](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/15\/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/15\/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear\/\") to buy food.\n\nIn May, [two North Korean escapees](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/21\/north-korea-un-defectors\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/05\/21\/north-korea-un-defectors\/\") described for the U.N. General Assembly experiences like watching family members die from starvation or seeing friends publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean TV dramas.\n\nIncreased government controls were believed to be behind [a sharp decline in defections](https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/21\/north-korea-defector-un-report\/ \"https:\/\/www.rfa.org\/english\/korea\/2025\/03\/21\/north-korea-defector-un-report\/\") last year, according to a U.N. report in March.\n\n**Includes reporting from Reuters.**","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	North Korea is the most restrictive country in the world, with the government tightening control over its citizens, intensifying surveillance and unleashing torrents of propaganda, according to a sweeping United Nations report released on Friday. The 14-page report , published by the U.N.’s Human Rights Office, covers developments in the country since 2014 and draws detail from interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who had left the country. Interviewees said that government control had seeped into “all parts of life,” the report said. “To block the people’s eyes and ears, they strengthened the crackdowns. It was a form of control aimed at eliminating even the smallest signs of dissatisfaction or complaint,” one escapee said, according to the report. The death penalty is “more widely allowed by law and implemented in practice,” the report said. State policies have exacerbated food scarcity. Access to information is more restricted than it was a decade ago, with severe new punishments including the death penalty for acts including the sharing of foreign media. Forced labor has increased, and people are less able to bribe their way out of arbitrary punishments. The report also listed a few improvements, including a strengthening of fair-trial guarantees and increased engagement with international human rights bodies. The North Korean government told investigators that it rejected the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that authorized the report. Reports from RFA Korean earlier this year detailed some of the circumstances described in the report. In May, sources told RFA that North Korean authorities had distributed high-performance handheld radio signal detectors to border security agents in an effort to block residents from making phone calls to South Korea. Supply shortages and surging inflation caused some residents to need to carry a backpack full of cash just to go shopping, RFA Korean reported in April. In March, residents said that North Korean soldiers were so cash-strapped that they were selling their gear to buy food. In May, two North Korean escapees described for the U.N. General Assembly experiences like watching family members die from starvation or seeing friends publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean TV dramas. Increased government controls were believed to be behind a sharp decline in defections last year, according to a U.N. report in March. Includes reporting from Reuters.
Markdown	[Skip to main content](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/09/12/north-korea-restrictive-control-report/#main) [![Radio Free Asia logo](https://static.themebuilder.aws.arc.pub/radiofreeasia/1662642260979.png)](https://www.rfa.org/english/ "Radio Free Asia logo") Sections SectionsSections [![Radio Free Asia logo](https://static.themebuilder.aws.arc.pub/radiofreeasia/1662642260979.png)](https://www.rfa.org/ "Radio Free Asia logo") [普通话Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/mandarin)[粤语Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/cantonese)[မြန်မာOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/burmese)[한국어Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/korean)[ລາວOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/lao)[ខ្មែរOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/khmer)[བོད་སྐད།Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/tibetan)[ئۇيغۇرOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/uyghur)[Tiếng ViệtOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/vietnamese)[EnglishOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/english) Search Search Close [普通话Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/mandarin)[粤语Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/cantonese)[မြန်မာOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/burmese)[한국어Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/korean)[ລາວOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/lao)[ខ្មែរOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/khmer)[བོད་སྐད།Opens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/tibetan)[ئۇيغۇرOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/uyghur)[Tiếng ViệtOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/vietnamese)[EnglishOpens in new window](https://www.rfa.org/english) * - [Cambodia](https://www.rfa.org/english/cambodia/) - [China](https://www.rfa.org/english/china/) - [Laos](https://www.rfa.org/english/laos/) - [Myanmar](https://www.rfa.org/english/myanmar/) - [North Korea](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/) - [Tibet](https://www.rfa.org/english/tibet/) - [Uyghur](https://www.rfa.org/english/uyghur/) - [Vietnam](https://www.rfa.org/english/vietnam/) - [Pacific](https://www.rfa.org/english/pacific/) - [South China Sea](https://www.rfa.org/english/south-china-sea/) - [Environment](https://www.rfa.org/english/environment/) - [Asia Fact Check Lab](https://www.rfa.org/english/factcheck/) - [Cartoon](https://www.rfa.org/english/cartoon/) - [Special report](https://www.rfa.org/english/special-reports/) - [Video](https://www.rfa.org/english/video/) - [Opinion](https://www.rfa.org/english/opinion/) - [About RFA](https://www.rfa.org/english/about/) Show About RFA sub sections - [Who We Are](https://www.rfa.org/english/about/leadership/) - [Press Room](https://www.rfa.org/english/about/releases) - [Contact Us](https://www.rfa.org/english/about/contact-us/) - [Jobs and InternshipsOpens in new window](https://careers-rfacareers.icims.com/jobs/) # North Koreans have grown more repressed, fearful in the past decade, U.N. report says ## “No other population is under such restrictions in today’s world,” human rights researchers said. By RFA staff 2025\.09.12 ![Social media sharing button](https://www.rfa.org/pf/resources/static/Social_logos_Share.png?d=150) ![This Sept. 9, 2025, photo released by the North Korean government shows residents gathering at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang.](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/7GTPO6PAK5EQBMP3OKYCVNZWMM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c0eea1578dbd4bef37817b6346d2861e2525f1633f840a2989b32d3f3adc6f68&width=5315&height=3543) This Sept. 9, 2025, photo released by the North Korean government shows residents gathering at the statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang. (AFP) North Korea is the most restrictive country in the world, with the government tightening control over its citizens, intensifying surveillance and unleashing torrents of propaganda, according to a sweeping United Nations report released on Friday. The [14-page report](https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf "https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf"), published by the U.N.’s Human Rights Office, covers developments in the country since 2014 and draws detail from interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who had left the country. Interviewees said that government control had seeped into “all parts of life,” the report said. “To block the people’s eyes and ears, they strengthened the crackdowns. It was a form of control aimed at eliminating even the smallest signs of dissatisfaction or complaint,” one escapee said, according to the report. The death penalty is “more widely allowed by law and implemented in practice,” the report said. State policies have exacerbated food scarcity. Access to information is more restricted than it was a decade ago, with severe new punishments including the death penalty for acts including the sharing of foreign media. Forced labor has increased, and people are less able to bribe their way out of arbitrary punishments. The report also listed a few improvements, including a strengthening of fair-trial guarantees and increased engagement with international human rights bodies. The North Korean government told investigators that it rejected the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that authorized the report. Reports from RFA Korean earlier this year detailed some of the circumstances described in the report. In May, sources told RFA that North Korean authorities had distributed high-performance handheld radio signal detectors to border security agents in an effort to [block residents from making phone calls](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/20/north-korea-phone-detectors/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/20/north-korea-phone-detectors/") to South Korea. Supply shortages and [surging inflation](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/04/03/north-korea-inflation/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/04/03/north-korea-inflation/") caused some residents to need to carry a backpack full of cash just to go shopping, RFA Korean reported in April. In March, residents said that North Korean soldiers were so cash-strapped that they were [selling their gear](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/15/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/15/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear/") to buy food. In May, [two North Korean escapees](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/21/north-korea-un-defectors/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/21/north-korea-un-defectors/") described for the U.N. General Assembly experiences like watching family members die from starvation or seeing friends publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean TV dramas. Increased government controls were believed to be behind [a sharp decline in defections](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/21/north-korea-defector-un-report/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/21/north-korea-defector-un-report/") last year, according to a U.N. report in March. Includes reporting from Reuters. ## Related Stories Previous [![North Korean escapees speak at UN General Assembly, drawing anger from Pyongyang](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/NP2AO7SSFNBPLBZ7SJU4VBLPOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=fed5da0499eb66fa3b752adfc89133df37d1f0e920f71ef637c4314c40ffd6bf&width=6000&height=4000)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/21/north-korea-un-defectors/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-21-north-korea-UN-defectors:story_page:1of3:13of14) [North Korean escapees speak at UN General Assembly, drawing anger from Pyongyang](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/21/north-korea-un-defectors/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-21-north-korea-UN-defectors:story_page:1of3:13of14) [![North Korea deploys handheld signal detectors to crack down on cross-border calls](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/LUJ6TYZUHZHD3ABEXN2M5XVI2E.JPG?smart=true&auth=b99d54e509e1f5283692494cfadd1fc269bca18b8c764261896eb4bbbddda6d7&width=4000&height=2667)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/20/north-korea-phone-detectors/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-20-North-korea-phone-detectors:story_page:2of3:13of14) [North Korea deploys handheld signal detectors to crack down on cross-border calls](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/20/north-korea-phone-detectors/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-05-20-North-korea-phone-detectors:story_page:2of3:13of14) [![North Korean defector numbers plunge amid Pyongyang’s strict control: UN report](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/Y24SXQSK35ETJF4UIKRAJOIVAI.JPG?smart=true&auth=1480ecfed0012305fcd6840dbff34db54f5045e1ad717a4756ab7f5ff2942d0f&width=2894&height=1929)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/21/north-korea-defector-un-report/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-03-21-north-korea-defector-un-report:story_page:3of3:13of14) [North Korean defector numbers plunge amid Pyongyang’s strict control: UN report](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/21/north-korea-defector-un-report/?int_cid=story_card:rc_v1_2025-03-21-north-korea-defector-un-report:story_page:3of3:13of14) Next ## MORE Korea [![](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/KHFKDD62HRFQ5H3NLEQWCWDTRE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fabefbe4ae957a45230555b687b242af9784d803ef02dbacd0bad5f7fa67902&width=274&height=182)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2026/03/26/north-korea-hacking-employment-scheme/) [North Korean hackers offer \$70,000 per month to be their front](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2026/03/26/north-korea-hacking-employment-scheme/) * [Photos: North Korea shows off new intercontinental missile at military parade](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/10/11/north-korea-icbm-hwasong-20-missile/) [![](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/NA3MEG474JBTRKK5D6A5D2NIBA.JPG?focal=1530%2C806&auth=51a2fa85589e10166c8a95f04b867f9fafc8c418ebc2cd05d3ccfbf33ac19815&width=274&height=274)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/10/11/north-korea-icbm-hwasong-20-missile/) * [North Korean soldiers who fought with Russian troops against Ukraine celebrated](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/10/10/north-korea-russia-workers-party-anniversary/) [![](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/PIJZAH443NH4LBWCVYTCIBPXRA.jpg?focal=2088%2C1407&auth=716377c44b385cffdf74d44039afa8cb09ea432c6966a37e3e1f4abf7aaba1b3&width=274&height=274)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/10/10/north-korea-russia-workers-party-anniversary/) * [‘This is fake’ — How North Korea uses AI and deepfakes as a weapon](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/09/29/north-korea-deepfake-ai-hackers/) [![](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/6HN7QUX5WBGQNPHKGDK5TS4WYM.jpg?focal=3014%2C1926&auth=0aa141f6b2d13cd188e5c45975c2f36071188c28ce0336872f8826dbf0a5149d&width=274&height=274)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/09/29/north-korea-deepfake-ai-hackers/) * [Kim open to talks if U.S. drops denuclearization demand](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/09/22/kim-trump-talks-north-korea/) [![](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/CSGXP5AE4BHUFK7ZRBCJMUPBJA.jpg?smart=true&auth=874f4e05ae5d1502122f17e1688a2b7b77539714430b637247459f86b40d2c4b&width=274&height=274)](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/09/22/kim-trump-talks-north-korea/) ## MOST READ RFA [![](https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/AC7QNARIDFECTJZE2TOBLVJ4MI.jpg?focal=1697%2C1485&auth=2d8d3db84730c3ee0c0fe58290dbe07978058c0b25a4bde02a7671618cdf23a2&width=274&height=182)](https://www.rfa.org/english/southchinasea/2026/04/10/philippines-fuel-depot-south-china-sea/) 1\. 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Readable Markdown	North Korea is the most restrictive country in the world, with the government tightening control over its citizens, intensifying surveillance and unleashing torrents of propaganda, according to a sweeping United Nations report released on Friday. The [14-page report](https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf "https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/a-hrc-60-58-advance-edited-version.pdf"), published by the U.N.’s Human Rights Office, covers developments in the country since 2014 and draws detail from interviews with more than 300 witnesses and victims who had left the country. Interviewees said that government control had seeped into “all parts of life,” the report said. “To block the people’s eyes and ears, they strengthened the crackdowns. It was a form of control aimed at eliminating even the smallest signs of dissatisfaction or complaint,” one escapee said, according to the report. The death penalty is “more widely allowed by law and implemented in practice,” the report said. State policies have exacerbated food scarcity. Access to information is more restricted than it was a decade ago, with severe new punishments including the death penalty for acts including the sharing of foreign media. Forced labor has increased, and people are less able to bribe their way out of arbitrary punishments. The report also listed a few improvements, including a strengthening of fair-trial guarantees and increased engagement with international human rights bodies. The North Korean government told investigators that it rejected the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that authorized the report. Reports from RFA Korean earlier this year detailed some of the circumstances described in the report. In May, sources told RFA that North Korean authorities had distributed high-performance handheld radio signal detectors to border security agents in an effort to [block residents from making phone calls](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/20/north-korea-phone-detectors/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/20/north-korea-phone-detectors/") to South Korea. Supply shortages and [surging inflation](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/04/03/north-korea-inflation/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/04/03/north-korea-inflation/") caused some residents to need to carry a backpack full of cash just to go shopping, RFA Korean reported in April. In March, residents said that North Korean soldiers were so cash-strapped that they were [selling their gear](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/15/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/15/north-korea-soldiers-sell-gear/") to buy food. In May, [two North Korean escapees](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/21/north-korea-un-defectors/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/05/21/north-korea-un-defectors/") described for the U.N. General Assembly experiences like watching family members die from starvation or seeing friends publicly executed for watching and sharing South Korean TV dramas. Increased government controls were believed to be behind [a sharp decline in defections](https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/21/north-korea-defector-un-report/ "https://www.rfa.org/english/korea/2025/03/21/north-korea-defector-un-report/") last year, according to a U.N. report in March. Includes reporting from Reuters.
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