North Korean Couples Sent to Labor Camps for Divorce

In a chilling crackdown on marital freedom, North Korea is reportedly sentencing divorced couples to labor camps for up to six months, according to sources cited by Radio Free Asia.

This development highlights the regime’s oppressive grip over personal lives, with divorce being treated not as a private matter but as a crime against the state.

Under the rule of Kim Jong-un, the government has long restricted divorce. Historically, it could only be granted by a court under extreme circumstances, such as severe betrayal or irreparable breakdowns in marriage.

However, recent accounts suggest the system has evolved to require mutual consent—even in cases involving physical abuse—making the process even more fraught for vulnerable spouses.

Rising Divorce Rates Spark Crackdown

Reports indicate that Kim Jong-un became enraged after divorce rates surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dictator allegedly accused divorcing couples of “bringing chaos into society” and undermining the socialist lifestyle.

By 2021, South Korea-based monitor Daily NK reported that the spouse deemed “more at fault” in a divorce was being sent to military labor camps.

Now, it appears that both parties in a divorce face punishment, regardless of the circumstances. Speaking anonymously to Radio Free Asia, a resident of Ryanggang Province described witnessing a court session where 12 people were granted divorces. “Immediately after the verdict, they were transferred to the county labor training camp,” the source said.

Women Bear the Brunt

The punishment system is reportedly harsher on women, especially those who file for divorce first. Sources reveal that women, often victims of domestic violence, disproportionately end up in labor camps.

“My brother divorced after three years of marriage,” shared one woman. “His wife submitted the divorce application and was sentenced to six months in a labor camp, while he only served one month.”

Such accounts reflect a disturbing pattern: women are twice as likely as men to face these brutal consequences. The imbalance, combined with high rates of spousal abuse, paints a grim picture of systemic gender inequality in the regime’s handling of divorce.

Public Shaming as a Deterrent

Beyond labor camps, the government employs propaganda and public shaming to discourage divorce. Previous reports revealed that parents of divorcees and their workplace supervisors were publicly humiliated, further pressuring couples to remain in unhappy or abusive marriages.

One propaganda campaign reportedly framed divorce as a betrayal of family and society, with slogans urging citizens to prioritize the “stability of the socialist collective” over personal happiness.

Experts Speak Out

“North Korea views personal relationships through the lens of political loyalty,” explained Dr. Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst and expert on North Korean affairs. “Marriage is not just a union between two people but a tool for social control. Divorce disrupts this system, and the state seeks to penalize it severely.”

A Window Into Everyday Oppression

While international headlines often focus on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, stories like these shed light on the pervasive control the regime exerts over daily life. Even personal decisions, such as ending a marriage, are tightly monitored and punished to reinforce the state’s authority.

For many, the price of seeking freedom from an abusive relationship is months of forced labor and public shame—an unimaginable trade-off in one of the world’s most repressive regimes.