Countries that still have the death penalty
Many nations continue to enforce capital punishment
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LIFESTYLE Capital punishment
The death penalty, or capital punishment, is the state-enacted execution of a person as punishment for a capital crime. Historically, this form of punishment was used in almost every part of the world. But as we evolve in our ethics and recognize the flaws in our justice systems, more and more nations have abolished state executions and reformed their legal systems. However, out of almost 200 countries on Earth, 54 still enforce the death penalty.
North Korea is one of the countries that still makes liberal use of capital punishment and convicted criminals can be executed for a wide variety of crimes. On September 3, the South Korean news outlet TV Chosun reported that 20-30 North Korean officials were executed in August over their response to a catastrophic flood. The Yalu River burst its banks in late July, causing destruction and casualties that affected an estimated 5,000 residents. Following the flooding, Kim Jong-un met with the Minister of Public Safety and the Provincial Party Committee Secretary of the affected region, immediately firing them both. Other officials have been charged with corruption and dereliction of duty. North Korea has reportedly ordered an increasing number of public executions in recent years as the country struggles to fight the influence of South Korea.
Click on to learn more about the situation in North Korea and discover the other countries where the state can still kill you for your crimes.
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