South Korean politician calls for abolition of death penalty as North Korea executes a top financial official

In a radio interview, South Korean House Speaker Kim Hyung-o called upon his government to officially end the death penalty, saying "a human life is a dignified given value and right, and even the power of the state should not be able to take it away".

Many believe his statement is an attempt to reassure the South Korean public that Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam does not intend to carry out his proposed construction of a governmental facility to carry out executions.

Although there are currently 57 people on South Korea's death row, the country has observed a moratorium on the death penalty for over 12 years. Many are now pushing for the law to be abolished; especially in light of Lee Kwi-nam’s comments.

The difference between the penal system in North and South Korea could not be starker, with the execution of ex-top financier Pak Nam-Ki.  Pak was first sacked and then shot in Pyongyang in a reported attempt to quash public anger over a currency revaluation crisis.  

His charge was "ruining the national economy deliberately as the son of a big landlord who infiltrated the ranks of revolutionaries". Some fear that he was merely a scapegoat for an increasingly unstable economy.

The news of yet another disreputable execution comes amidst the report issued by Vitit Muntarbhorn, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in which he admonished North Korea for running a "state of fear". 

He claims that human rights have worsened and the regime is failing to provide even the most basic of amenities.