2024 International Moot Pre-Trial
on Crimes Against Humanity
in North Korea's Political Prison Camps

Goals of Pre-Trial

Experienced former international judges will gather in Seoul to hold a symbolic Pre-Trial hearing on abuses of international humanitarian and criminal law perpetrated in the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea (North Korea).

By having distinguished former international judges sitting as a Pre-Trial Chamber evaluate charges related to typical crimes against humanity committed in North Korean detention facilities, this event is expected to raise international awareness of the grave human rights violations in North Korea significantly. It will also serve as a milestone in efforts to improve the human rights situation in North Korea, one of the world's longest and worst.

About the Pre-Trial

Background

On February 7, 2014, the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) concluded that North Korea's human rights violations are unprecedented crimes against humanity in modern society. The COI recommended that the UN Security Council refer North Korea's situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC) or establish an ad-hoc international tribunal.

However, due to the opposition of permanent Security Council members, the Peoples' Republic of China and the Russian Federation, the COI's recommendations have not been implemented.

As we mark the 10th anniversary of this historic report, a groundbreaking moot pre-trial event will take place in Seoul. This event will be notable for assembling distinguished former judges, prosecutors, and attorneys from international tribunals, aiming to draw both domestic and international attention to the human rights violations occurring within North Korea's political prison camps.

What to Expect

The purpose of the hearing before the Pre-Trial Chamber is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that the supreme leader committed each of the crimes charged.

The Pre-Trial Chamber will rule orally either confirming the charges presented to it, or declining to do so, or adjourning the hearing and requesting the Prosecutor to consider specified matters (the written report will be released in a few weeks).

In addition to the evidence outlined in the 2014 COI Report, the Moot Pre-Trial Hearing will incorporate testimonies from the 2012 Compilations of North Korean Human Rights Violations by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). Further evidence will be drawn from the 2017 Inquiry on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korean Political Prisons (IBA), the 2022 Inquiry on Crimes against Humanity in North Korean Detention Centers (IBA), and the 2024 Report on North Korean Human Rights issued by the ROK Ministry of Unification.

Tribunal Documents

Additional documents, including the final judgement, will be uploaded upon completion of the tribunal.

Event Info

Date: Monday, November 25 - Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Venue: Korea Press Center, Press Club

Events Calendar

Nov. 25 (Monday)

Opening Statements

Direct Examination

Lunch

Cross Examination

Judge’s Examination

Nov. 26 (Tuesday)

Closing Arguments

Judge’s Deliberation

Lunch

Conclusion of Pre-Trial

Closing Ceremony

Defense Counsels

The Participants

Chamber

Prosecutors

Co-Hosts/Sponsors

Co-Hosts

Sponsors

Documents