Experts criticize WHO’s North Korea suicide stats



Analysis Experts criticize WHO’s North Korea suicide stats Data based on risk factors present in other countries doesn’t hold up in the North, scientists say Benjamin R. Young \| Rob York October 10, 2014 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Eric Lafforgue A study released last month by the World Health Organization placed North Korea’s suicide rate at among the worst in the world, but a number of scientists have slammed its conclusions. The report, Presenting Suicide: A Global Imperative, estimated that 9,790 North Koreans took their own lives in 2012. This would give the North a higher suicide rate than South Korea, a nation with a notorious problem of people taking their own lives. In fact, among the nations surveyed the report placed the North behind only Guyana in terms of suicide prevalence. However, given the well-known difficulty of accessing © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

Analysis

Experts criticize WHO’s North Korea suicide stats

Data based on risk factors present in other countries doesn’t hold up in the North, scientists say

Benjamin R. Young | Rob York October 10, 2014

Experts criticize WHO’s North Korea suicide stats

Eric Lafforgue

A study released last month by the World Health Organization placed North Korea’s suicide rate at among the worst in the world, but a number of scientists have slammed its conclusions.

The report, Presenting Suicide: A Global Imperative, estimated that 9,790 North Koreans took their own lives in 2012. This would give the North a higher suicide rate than South Korea, a nation with a notorious problem of people taking their own lives. In fact, among the nations surveyed the report placed the North behind only Guyana in terms of suicide prevalence.

However, given the well-known difficulty of accessing

About the Authors

Benjamin R. Young

Benjamin R. Young, Ph.D. has taught at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dakota State University and the U.S. Naval War College. He was a 2024-25 Stanton Foundation Nuclear Security Fellow at the RAND Corporation. He is now an Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies at Fayetteville State University. He is the author of the book "Guns, Guerillas, and the Great Leader: North Korea and the Third World" (Stanford University Press, 2021).

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Rob York

Rob York is director for regional affairs at the Pacific Forum. He previously worked as a production editor for The South China Morning Post and chief editor of NK News. He is also a Ph.D. candidate in Korean history at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

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