[JURIST] Freedom House [advocacy website], an “independent watchdog organization,” released its 2017 Freedom in the World report [PDF], listing North Korea as one of the least-free nations in the world. The report lists North Korea as one of its 11 “worst of the worst” nations, ahead of only Syria in aggregate “freedom” score. North Korea received a score of 3 out of 100 for its lack of civil liberties and political rights, and for Kim Jong Un’s government’s continued persecution of citizens for religious beliefs. North Korea has been a member of the “worst of the worst” since 1973.

North Korea is well known for human rights violations, which has led to frequent sanction. In mid-January, the Obama administration expanded sanctions [JURIST report] against North Korea for alleged human rights violations, adding eight North Korean government officials to the Specially Designated Nationals List. Kim Jong Un and 10 other high ranking officials were placed on the list [JURIST report] in July after the release of the report detailing the human rights violations in the country. Last month Kim announced [JURIST report] in his New Year’s address that the country is in the final stage of preparations to test-launch an intercontinental ballistic rocket. The month before, the Institute for National Security Strategy released a report [JURIST report] asserting that Kim ordered the executions of 340 people in the five years that he has been in power.