Changes in the Judicial, State Security, and Social Security Systems: Implications for Human Rights in North Korea

CO26-23

Changes in the Judicial, State Security, and Social Security Systems: Implications for Human Rights in North Korea

2026.04.03.

Kyu-Chang Lee Director, Human Rights Research Division

North Korea abolished its preliminary examination system through amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law in 2023 and integrated investigation and preliminary examination. With the abolition of the preliminary examination system, the criminal procedure, which had previously consisted of four stages-investigation, preliminary examination, indictment, and trial-was shortened to three stages: investigation, indictment, and trial. The amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law introduced institutional changes aimed at strengthening the protection of the rights of persons under investigation (suspects). They also shortened the periods of detention and prosecution. The 2023 Criminal Procedure Law newly established provisions stipulating that a defense lawyer shall conduct their defense activities independently and that investigators, prosecutors, judges, and courts must actively guarantee the exercise of the defense lawyer's functions. Meanwhile, the March 23, 2026 edition of the Rodong Sinmun, in introducing Ri Chang-dae, a member of the State Affairs Commission who attended the First Session of the Fifteenth Supreme People's Assembly, identified him as the “Director of the National Intelligence Agency.”

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Korea Institute for National Unification.

217, Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06578, Korea
TEL / 02)2023-8000 Email / webmaster@kinu.or.kr