North Korea’s latest consolidation of power under Kim Jong-un has intensified internal repression, with reports of heightened surveillance, forced labor, and crackdowns on dissent as the regime tightens control over its population. Authorities have expanded monitoring of citizens through digital tools and informant networks, while political prisoners face harsher conditions in detention facilities. The regime’s economic struggles have also led to increased reliance on state-mandated labor programs, deepening hardship for ordinary citizens. Analysts warn that these measures reflect a broader strategy to eliminate any challenge to the leadership’s absolute authority.
The Hidden Human Cost of Kim Jong-un’s New Power The New York Times
