'Evil Leaders' do not explain North Korea's human rights crisis

Evergreen

‘Evil Leaders’ do not explain North Korea’s human rights crisis

"Fear and isolation are the main reasons for the North to keep those they distrust in camps" - Geir Helgesen

Gianluca Spezza August 6, 2013

‘Evil Leaders’ do not explain North Korea’s human rights crisis

NK News

North Korea refuses to cooperate at any level on the issue of human rights, according to an announcement from the United Nations in early July.

But a recently established investigation commission, led by Australian judge Michael Kirby, seems determined to gather all possible information both from former North Korean citizens now living abroad and, should access be granted, directly from North Korean authorities, even if the latter seems unrealistic at the moment.

About the Author

Gianluca Spezza

Gianluca Spezza earned his PhD in 2017 from the University of Central Lancashire under the supervision of Professor Hazel Smith, on the strength of research on the cooperation between UNICEF and the DPRK in education and childcare. Dr Spezza is an assistant professor of international relations and a senior researcher at the DPRK Strategy Center at KIMEP University in Almaty, Kazakhstan; he is writing a monograph on education, international cooperation, and human capital in North Korea (Palgrave 2021). His work on the DPRK, articles or interviews, can be found, among others, on the websites of the BBC, The Guardian, The Diplomat, IRIN News, NK News, DR.dk, Newsweek Korea, and El Confidential.

View more articles by Gianluca Spezza Got a news tip?Let us know!