The Suppressed Rights of North Korean Women

North Korea is one of the most closed and centrally controlled societies in the world, where women face severe discrimination and oppression. While Kim Jong-un's authoritarian regime rhetorically praises women as "proud owners responsible for one of the wheels of the nationalistic revolutionary cart," in reality, serious human rights abuses and discrimination against women are rampant. Women in North Korea are viewed merely as "social labor force," with their freedoms and rights strictly limited.

1. Social, Political, and Economic Oppression

 North Korea operates under an extreme centralization of power, with all political authority concentrated in the hands of its supreme leader, Kim Jong-un. Women are expected to focus on domestic responsibilities and childcare in accordance with traditional values, leaving them with little to no opportunities for political participation. Their roles are confined to motherhood, and their social status and economic independence are barely recognized. Women are excluded from political freedoms and are mobilized solely to support Kim Jong-un's authoritarian ideology.

 North Korea’s planned economy, controlled entirely by the regime, relegates women primarily to domestic labor or low-wage factory work. Their labor is undervalued compared to men’s, and their earnings are significantly lower. The occupations available to women are predominantly physical labor or service-related jobs.

 The economic hardship that began in the mid-1990s, marked by the collapse of the planned economy and the rise of informal markets(jangmadang), has further intensified women’s suffering. Women continue to struggle for economic independence and survival outside the official economic system, risking crackdowns and punishment by the authorities.

2. Women's Education: Between the Home and the Marketplace

 North Korean women bear dual responsibilities of economic activity and domestic roles. After completing transactions in the jangmadang, they immediately return home to manage household chores and care for children. North Korean society emphasizes traditional gender roles, forcing women to focus primarily on their domestic duties.

 Women striving for economic independence in the jangmadang endure immense hardship as they balance these responsibilities. North Korean education and culture remain deeply gender-biased, with women primarily receiving education geared towards household management and childcare. They are denied access to specialized technical training for economic independence, unlike men, who are educated to rise as officials in institutions or the military. These discriminatory norms and educational structures pose significant barriers to women pursuing their dreams.

3. Prevalent Sexual Violence

 North Korean women face constant threats of sexual violence and exploitation, particularly within the military or public institutions. Sexual violence is one of the most pressing human rights issues in North Korea, yet the regime shows no intention of addressing it. Naturally, no systematic response is in place, and the suffering caused by structural sexism and sexual violence shows no signs of abating.

 Victims of sexual violence are socially stigmatized and often subjected to retaliation due to the male-dominated and perpetrator-centric societal mindset. It is nearly impossible for victims to report incidents or seek help through official channels. With little hope for internal reform, external forces are the only glimmer of hope. The international community must unite and continue exerting pressure on North Korea to protect and promote the freedom and rights of its women.