Prison camps, child labor, and the restriction of the freedom of expression, religion, and movement: state violence and infringement of basic human rights in North Korea have been a widely discussed problem among academics and policymakers for decades.

While the 'summit diplomacy' between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared to be opening doors to diplomacy in 2018, many experts, activists, and politicians have been voicing disappointment with the near-absence of human rights issues in the talks.