International News
How North Korea Executes Citizens for Watching Foreign Films – UN
The United Nations has raised alarm over the growing use of executions in North Korea, warning that citizens are being put to death for acts as simple as watching or sharing foreign films and dramas.
In a recent report, the UN Human Rights Office accused the Kim Jong Un-led government of tightening restrictions on nearly every aspect of daily life, with surveillance now described as “more pervasive” than ever.
“No other population is under such restrictions in today’s world,” the report stated, citing interviews with escapees.
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The findings, drawn from 300 testimonies of defectors, revealed that at least six new laws passed since 2015 allow executions for distributing or viewing foreign media. Witnesses said public shootings have become more common since 2020.
One escapee, Kang Gyuri, who fled in 2023, explained how entertainment could mean death: “He was tried along with drug criminals. These crimes are treated the same now,” she said, adding that three of her friends were executed simply for watching South Korean dramas.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned that unless urgent action is taken, North Koreans will remain trapped in “brutal repression and fear.”
The report also highlighted worsening hunger and economic hardship since 2019, when Pyongyang abandoned diplomatic efforts to focus on weapons development.
A woman who escaped in 2018 recalled: “In the early days of Kim Jong Un, we had some hope, but that hope did not last long. The government gradually blocked people from making a living independently, and the very act of living became a daily torment.”
The UN further accused North Korea of forcing orphans and the poor into dangerous labour under “shock brigades,” while maintaining at least four political prison camps.
Despite a slight decline in physical violence from guards, torture and deaths remain widespread in detention facilities.
The report urged Pyongyang to abolish its prison camps, end executions, and adopt policies that protect human rights.
Türk stressed: “Our reporting shows a clear and strong desire for change, particularly among North Korea’s young people.”
The UN also called for North Korea’s human rights violations to be referred to the International Criminal Court for investigation.
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.
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