According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, politically powerful families and conglomerates own the mainstream media and place some pressure on journalists to avoid critical coverage of economic affairs. The broadcast media are subsidized by the state but offer varied viewpoints. Civic institutions are strong, and local human rights groups operate openly. Women face unofficial social and employment discrimination and are frequently the first to be laid off during corporate restructuring. Domestic violence is reportedly fairly widespread.
Religious freedom is respected.
On several occasions police responded to large student and labor demonstrations with excessive force and mass arrests. In 1998, authorities arrested dozens of trade union leaders for organizing strikes deemed illegal. Courts released most of them in early 1999, but some remain in prison. In January, courts sentenced 15 labor activists to between 3 and 15 years in prison under the NSL for joining an allegedly pro-Pyongyang group. Trade unions are relatively small but vigorous.