North Korea significantly increased the number of executions during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report that documented a sharp rise in state-sanctioned killings.

The report indicates that some of the offenses leading to execution were related to cultural activities, including the consumption of South Korean entertainment content such as K-dramas and K-pop music. These cultural restrictions reflect the country's strict controls on foreign media and entertainment.

The findings suggest North Korea used heightened enforcement measures during the pandemic period, though specific numbers and timeframes were not immediately available. The isolated nation has historically maintained severe penalties for various offenses, including those related to foreign cultural consumption.

North Korea's government has long sought to prevent the influence of South Korean popular culture, viewing it as a threat to state ideology and social control. The country typically restricts access to foreign media and entertainment content through various legal measures.

The report adds to ongoing concerns about human rights conditions in North Korea, where international observers have limited access to monitor and verify conditions on the ground.