Goal 10

"Reduce inequality within and among countries"

The international community has achieved considerable results in the process of eradicating poverty. Efforts are in full swing to reduce inequality in the least developed countries, inland developing countries, and small island developing countries. However, inequality continues in the areas, for example, health, education, and asset management.

There is a growing consensus that economic growth is not comprehensive and that it is not sufficient to reduce poverty unless it includes sustainable development at the economic, social, and environmental levels. Fortunately, income inequality has decreased between countries and within countries. At this point, per capita income from 60 out of 94 countries with data has increased faster than the national average, and there has been some progress in creating favorable conditions for exports from underdeveloped countries.

In order to reduce inequality, universal policies should be adopted, in principle, and the needs of the vulnerable and underprivileged should be focused. In addition to increasing the voting rate of developing countries within the IMF, tax-free treatment and strong exports in developing countries should continue. Finally, technological innovation can help reduce the high remittance costs of migrant workers.

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As a self-proclaimed Socialist State, the DPRK purports the social, economic, and political inclusion of all its people in its Socialist Constitution. In its first National Report submitted ahead of the Universal Periodic Review in 2009, the DPRK stated that, “equality is fully ensured based on unity and cooperation between persons. No citizen is discriminated on the basis of his/her race, sex, language, religion, education, occupation and position and property, and all citizens exercise equal rights in all fields of the State and public activities.” Additionally, when it comes to the adoption of policies to achieve greater equality, the DPRK stated that, “there are, in the State policies, laws and regulations, provisions favouring women’s interests over men’s but no discriminatory provisions whatsoever, and all women are enjoying equal rights with men in political, economic and cultural matters, as well as in family.” In regards to the facilitation of migration and mobility of people, the DPRK has claimed that there is no problem related to minorities or indigenous groups as “the DPRK is a homogeneous nation.” Also in its 2021 VNR report, the DPRK once more asserted that the country guarantees the equal rights for its nationals by stating that “The DPRK provides everyone with the rights to social, economic and political inclusion to the full.” 

The DPRK has been outspoken about the inequality between countries, stating that, “all anachronistic and unjust economic sanctions against developing countries, which hindered economic and social development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, should be ended.” Specifically in regards to the need for enhanced representation in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions, the DPRK stated in 2019 that, “since the current international financial and trade system was dominated by a few privileged countries, international cooperation could not truly contribute to the development of developing countries, as any cooperation would end in political domination and subordination,” going on to state that, “disparities should be addressed, in particular, by providing investment and infrastructure for those in rural and remote areas.”

[Interview by NKDB in 2017 (NKDB Unified Human Rights Database)]

[Interview by NKDB in 2015 (NKDB Unified Human Rights Database)]

[Interview by NKDB in 2015 (NKDB Unified Human Rights Database)]

[Interview by NKDB in 2017 (NKDB Unified Human Rights Database)]

[Interview by NKDB in 2017 (NKDB Unified Human Rights Database)] 

The State-managed Public Distribution System was created to provide meals for virtually the entire population, however over the course of the Arduous March the system collapsed and food rations are now only reserved for a limited group of people. As a result, the informal economic sector and marketplaces have flourished in recent years. Regarding this, the KINU pointed out that this growing independence from the state has meant there are fewer cases of starvation and poverty in North Korea, but it has also led to a deepening income gap in North Korea. According to the North Korea-UNICEF MICS, 60% of urban dwellers belong to the top 40% of the wealth percentile while only 8.8% of rural residents fall under the same group. As North Korea develops, the inequality deepens between urban and rural areas, which can be seen as only 55.6% of North Korean households have drinking water pipes and more people live in apartments compared to those who live in lower quality homes.

At the most basic level, the socio-political classification system, known as ‘songbun,’ has led to pervasive discrimination and growing inequalities between groups in North Korea. The ‘songbun’ system divides the North Korean people into three broad classes: core, wavering and hostile. According to the UN COI report, based on their class, North Koreans face inequalities within society in regards to residency, occupation, access to food, health care, education, and other services. NKDB’s research has found that in combination with economic resources, discrimination based on one’s ‘songbun’ determines one’s chances to advance to tertiary education and chances of being admitted to specific universities.  Additionally, while in the past it was those who had family originally from South Korea who faced discrimination, NKDB has found those whose family have defected to South Korea also face additional human rights violations such as surveillance and wire-tapping.

In addition to the inequalities that arise due to ‘songbun,’ human rights reports have found that there are major obstacles blocking the road for equal opportunities for women and people with disabilities. In the absence of legislation ensuring the civil rights of people with disabilities, discriminatory practices that amount to serious human rights violations were routinely committed by DPRK authorities against groups with specific disabilities, such as the freedom of movement and residence.

NKDB has found that inequalities exist not only in income, but also in the face of the law. The ICCPR, of which the DPRK is a party to, stipulates that an accused is entitled to the equal protection of the law without being discriminated against on any grounds, including social origin or birth. Yet in NKDB’s research on judicial proceedings, interviewees testified on the systematic discrimination on the basis of social status and family background in the judicial system of the DPRK.

There is a growing divide between North Korea and the rest of the world as the state lives up to its name of “Hermit Kingdom” and remains closed to the world. As a result, the DPRK still lacks representation and a voice in decision-making in global economic and financial institutions.

33, Changgyeonggung-ro 1-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 

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