On the 16th, ICNK member organization Freedom House chose North Korea as the world's worst repressor of political and civil rights in their annual report, 'Freedom in the World 2013.'

The Asia Research Analyst, Sarah Cook, for Freedom House said that during the last year, Kim Jong Eun had strengthened the regime's control over defection to strengthen his power, and there have been no signs of improvement on political and civil freedom. Also, she added that Kim Jong Eun's regime needs to reform the economy more for the benefit of the people.

In 1981, North Korea ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; however, according to Marzuki Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea, North Korea still have not submitted their 3rd regular report on civil and political rights, which was due in January 2004.