CONFIDENTIAL
KOREA, NORTH
Report by Far Eastern Department
Right No.
(i)
Political suspects can be seized and held incommunicado for extended periods and interrogated in secret and by such means as desired by the authorities. public trial would only be held if it suited the convenience of the authorities.
A
(ii) The Central Authorities, but not the local
police, use physical coercion. Army units are permitted to use electric shocks or to beat suspected enemy agents. At least two prison camps are known to exist.
(iii)
(iv)
Slavery as an institution does not exist in North Korea.
Rating suggested by Department
In spite of constitutional provisions, freedom of speech, press, assembly, association and demonstration do not exist. The regime controls and censors all information media whose officials come from the top ranks of official party cadres.
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7
10
(v) The concept of an independent judiciary is alien 10
to the North Korean regime. Judges have a personal duty to carry out the Party line faithfully.
(vi) The role of the General Federation of Korean
Trade Unions, like that of all other organisations, is to follow the instructions of the Korean Workers' Party. All labour matters are completely controlled by govern- ment regulations.
Emigration is forbidden. Only officials,
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(vii)
10
members of government and Party delegates travel outside the country.
Movement within the
country moreover is controlled by an internal passport system.
CONFIDENTIAL
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