Harsh Punishments for Cell Phones, Market Activity

(Bangkok, May 16, 2013) – The North Korean government regularly arrests, abuses, tortures, and imprisons citizens for a variety of economic “crimes,” Human Rights Watch said today. The harsh punishment of these “crimes,” which are often no more than attempts to engage in private economic activity to support livelihood and basic rights to food, clothing and shelter, should be investigated by the recently established Commission of Inquiry created by the UN Human Rights Council to examine human rights violations in North Korea.

The project started in July 2010 but was suspended during the implementation of emergency operation (EMOP 200266) from April 2011 to June 2012. The PRRO 200114 re-started in July 2012 and will be implemented until June 2013. The project assists about 2.4 million people, mainly children and pregnant and breastfeeding women. In partnership with the DPRK Government, WFP supports 14 factories which produce fortified biscuits and Super Cereals for children and women.

This report covers the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT

• Prospects for the 2012/13 early season crops generally favourable

• Relatively good 2012 main season harvest gathered last October-November

• Despite good production cereal import requirements for 2012/13 (November/ October) remain at fairly high level of 507 000 tonnes

• About 2.8 million vulnerable people estimated as facing facing severe food insecurity situated mainly in the northeast provinces of the country

As tensions rise on the Korean peninsula, Amnesty International answers key questions about human rights in North Korea.

How bad are human rights in North Korea?
Millions of people in North Korea suffer extreme forms of repression and human rights violations that violate nearly the entire spectrum of their human rights. In January 2013, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said that North Korea had “one of the worst –but least understood and reported - human rights situations in the world”.

In late 2012, Liechtenstein provided support to WFP’s operation aiming at providing nutritional assistance to small children in DPR Korea. The contribution enabled WFP to reach nearly 100,000 young children for one month.

Lichtenstein's US$108,000 contribution was used to procure 174 metric tons of maize. Along with other ingredients, the maize was transformed into Super Cereal – a blended food enriched with vitamins and minerals - which was given as nutritional assistance to children in nurseries aged between 6-48 months.

Summary:

Since July 2012, most parts of DPRK were hit by consecutive floods caused by torrential rains. The impact of these floods was exacerbated when Typhoon Bolaven hit on 28 August 2012.

DPRK Red Cross Society (DPRK RCS), with the support from IFRC, has carried out the flood response and relief operation in south Hamgyong, north Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces which were severely affected by typhoon Bolaven with high intensity rainfall within a short period of time as well as strong winds resulting in flash floods.

Unanimous response to Victims’ Calls for Accountability

(Geneva, March 21, 2013) – The United Nations Human Rights Council took a landmark step by establishing a commission of inquiry for North Korea, Human Rights Watch said today. The commission will investigate crimes against humanity and other serious human rights abuses in North Korea, and make recommendations for accountability.

World Food Programme (WFP)

• Food Assistance

• Nutrition

• Food Security

Present in DPRK since 1995

Covering: 9 out of 10 Provinces; 85 out of 209 counties

Funding Summary (2013)

Required: US$ 93 million
Received: US$ 33.5 million