The death of a person in any country is always a challenging incident to deal with. In North Korea, the death of someone can become an even more complicated affair. North Korea is a closed society with many secrets and oppressive measures, so not much is known about what transpires in the country aside from selective reports from its state-run media agencies. Thus, when it comes to deaths, there’s a very distinct lack of information about who died in North Korea today.
According to the United Nations, North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world, with no meaningful access allowed for journalists or human rights investigations. With limited access to information, scarce data points out there regarding the mortality rate from the country, or even the cause of death in any given case. There are also reports of a wide range of human rights violations going on in the country, including the arbitrary disappearances of people, which makes it even more difficult to identify who has died in North Korea today.
“Whenever a person dies, one should be able to determine the cause of death,” says Jeyhun Mammadov, a doctoral researcher at the University of Oxford and an expert on North Korea. “In North Korea, where there’s a lack of transparency, this is very hard to do.” Mammadov points out that North Korea’s unwillingness to make its data publicly available means that it is hard to know who has died or in what context. It is also difficult to access the data from its hospitals or health care facilities. This is particularly concerning for experts because it means we can’t track the causes of death or changes in mortality rates over time.
Additionally, death tolls in the country are not an easy thing to deduce. The death of a single person or a group of people can be difficult to confirm with the state-run media or sources like news wires, and the “truth” of the incident can often be hard to find. This makes it almost impossible to assess the severity of the incident and truly understand who has died in North Korea today. More often than not, the deaths reported by the media and human rights organizations remain vague and inconclusive.
It is well known that North Korea is a heavily militarized authoritarian state, and this undoubtedly compounds the issue of understanding who has died in the country today. When it comes to deaths that occur during military operations, there is an extreme level of control and censorship surrounding the subject. The government uses the nation’s loyalty to the state and its leader as a tool to dissuade dissent and suppress any criticism. This is another barrier to understanding who has died in North Korea today.
Overall, despite the limited information we have, it is often still possible to make assumptions and projections related to who died in North Korea today. With the assistance of NGOs, research institutes and the international community, experts can piece together some of the information and may be able to uncover the truth from time to time. Unfortunately, until North Korea becomes more open to the outside world and shares more information about its internal affairs, it is likely that our understanding of who died in North Korea today will remain incomplete.
What Causes People to Die in North Korea?
It is difficult to ascertain what causes people to die in North Korea because access to medical facilities, treatments and medications is highly limited. As a result, many common health issues can quickly turn into severe, even fatal, conditions. Not to mention, the country has a shortage of healthcare staff and a lack of essential medical equipment, making it harder to treat certain conditions. In addition, it is reported that healthcare services for general illnesses may not be accessible for certain people living in rural areas, leading to poor public health outcomes and individuals dying unnecessarily.
Moreover, people in North Korea are prone to famine due to poor agricultural practices, a lack of international food aid, and extreme weather conditions, such as flooding. Since the 1990s, food shortages and famines have caused widespread starvation and deaths, particularly among children and the elderly. Further to this, medical complications such as dehydration, malnutrition, anemia, and diseases related to poor hygiene can lead to fatalities.
Another major cause of death in North Korea is industrial accidents – especially since the state has pushed for economic growth with the construction of new high-rise buildings and factories, generating security and safety hazards for workers. Other factors include environmental issues stemming from the country’s negligence and lack of policy, as well as extreme poverty.
All in all, the numerous factors affecting health and well-being in North Korea make it difficult to calculate with any certainty who died in the country today.
What Are the Implications Of Death in North Korea?
It is essential to understand the implications of death in North Korea as it can provide insight into the oppressive environment that citizens of the country must endure.
The lack of freedom that North Koreans face means that their voices often go unheard, and their stories and hardships remain unknown. With the government’s strict surveillance and media censorship, people are rarely informed of what’s truly going on in the country, and people’s deaths often remain unreported or grossly underreported.
For instance, the deaths of enemies of the state are often not publicized and may be kept secret, while the deaths of citizens engaged in “anti-state” activities may be actively discouraged. Death in North Korea is often used as an oppressive tool or made into an example to frighten or intimidate the public.
On the other hand, death in North Korea may also be seen as an opportunity for its government to induce feelings of guilt in citizens or outsiders. For example, the deaths of “heroic” figures or martyrs can be used as a tool to draw attention to the nation’s propaganda.
What Are the Political Consequences Of Deaths In North Korea?
Deaths in North Korea have tremendous political implications due to the repressive nature of the government. With the high level of control that the country wields over its citizens, the death of anyone, especially high-profile figures, can lead to a great deal of unrest and discontent.
For instance, the death of Kim Jong-il in 2011 triggered shockwaves throughout the state, resulting in efforts by the military to stabilize the situation. Furthermore, the subsequent transition of leadership to Kim Jong-un cause concerns of a possible revolution or instability.
The government’s tight grip over the population means that deaths and the knowledge of deaths have the potential to destabilize the climate within the country. This is why the government is so secretive about various issues, including deaths and the causes of deaths.
Certain types of death, such as execution, can also be a tool for the government to maintain its oppressive control over the people. The government can utilize the death of an enemy of the state or an individual who is seen as a threat to create an atmosphere of fear amongst citizens
What Are the Humanitarian Consequences Of Death In North Korea?
North Korea’s citizens are almost entirely cut off from the outside world and this makes the consequences of death even more devastating.
The government’s strict control over its people means that those who experience death do not get to grieve publicly, as the nation’s citizens are denied the right to conduct funeral ceremonies and other public displays of grief. This denial of public mourning and memorials likely further exacerbates the emotional impact of death, as people are unable to come together and remember the deceased in any meaningful way.
The lack of freedom in North Korea is also evident in other ways. Death in the country can result in the victim’s family being denied access to the deceased’s possessions, with the government taking ownership of any items that may be of value. This denies families of the deceased the closure of gaining access to any private documents or photographs, which instead remain a state secret.
North Korea is one of the poorest nations in the world and its citizens lack access to medical care and medications, making death even more likely. Consequently, those who are unwell are often denied the access to treatment or the care that is needed to ensure their safety.
What Steps Can Be Taken To Combat Death In North Korea?
The lack of transparency surrounding who died in North Korea today requires external intervention to create conditions for improved access to data and understanding of mortality in the country.
Firstly, the international community must work to reduce the tension and hostility between North Korea and its neighbouring countries, as well as between North Korea and the UN. This is necessary for any meaningful attempt to gain access to data regarding deaths in the country.
Dialogue and constructive negotiations are essential steps needed in order to foster trust and good relations between North Korea and the international community. Through this, human rights organisations will be able to gain access to more information as well as secure a greater level of collaboration with North Korean authorities.
In addition, more effort must be made to pull vulnerable people out of poverty and provide support to those who are struggling with illness or injury. Support can come in the form of humanitarian aid to help deliver medical treatments, educational materials, and basic necessities. Moreover, providing North Korea with economic assistance and increasing cooperation in the fields of science, technology, and medicine can help to improve healthcare in the country.
Ultimately, breaking the barriers of silence and refusing to accept the restricted access to mortality data in North Korea is the only way to truly understand and find out who died in the country today. Until then, it is up to the international community to continue to push for greater transparency, support, and assistance for the people of North Korea.
