Country Expert Witness on North Korea and East Asia Countries for Asylum Cases Providing Expert Witness Reports, Evidence and Country Expert Testimonies for Asylum and Human Rights Cases

Hello, dear colleagues!
This article is primarily written for law firms representing asylum applicants from North Korea and other countries in East Asia, although it may also be useful for applicants themselves.
My name is Maxim Kharitonov, and I am the founder of The Human Rights, an international agency of expert witnesses specializing in expert reports for asylum seekers worldwide (website: thehuman-rights.com).
We provide expert witness reports on human rights violations, political persecution, and asylum-related risks across key regions, including:

• Post-Soviet Region (CIS): Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia.
• East Africa: Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda.
• South & Central Asia: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan.
• Middle East: Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia.
• Western Balkans: Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Latin America & the Caribbean: Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil.
• East Asia: China, North Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, Myanmar.

In this article, I will explain how our team approaches the analysis of the situation in North Korea and other East Asia countries, highlight key issues related to human rights violations, and discuss why an expert witness report plays a crucial role in asylum cases.

What is an Expert Witness Report?
An expert witness report is an independent analytical document used to substantiate facts, justify risks, and assess the situation in the applicant’s country of origin.
Its purpose is to demonstrate that the applicant faces a real threat of persecution and cannot return to North Korea or another East Asia country due to the risks involved. The report serves as witness testimony in the asylum case, providing expert insight into the situation in the applicant’s country of origin.

Why is an Expert Witness Report Essential?
An expert witness report is crucial at every stage of the asylum process:

• At the application stage: It helps establish the applicant's personal risks and their connection to the general situation in North Korea or another East Asia country.
• At the appeal stage: If the application has been denied, the report can be used for a detailed analysis of the immigration authority’s decision, identifying errors, and providing additional evidence.

Key Functions of an Expert Witness Report
1. Contextual Analysis
An expert witness report confirms the broader situation in North Korea and other East Asia countries, including political instability, repression, and conflict, citing both international and local sources.

2. Personal Risk Assessment
The report demonstrates the connection between the applicant’s individual threats and the conditions in their country. Whether it’s due to their political views, ethnicity, religion, or gender, the report will explain why they are personally at risk in North Korea or another East Asia country.

3. Strengthening the Evidence Base
An expert witness report verifies that the applicant belongs to a vulnerable group facing persecution. Vulnerable groups can include ethnic or religious minorities, journalists, political activists, and women, particularly in countries like North Korea, where these groups may face targeted violence.

4. Support with Credible Sources
The report references authoritative organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, and others. All sources are formatted according to the OSCOLA citation standard.

Country Expert Witness on North Korea and East Asia Countries
At The Human Rights, we specialize in preparing expert witness reports for asylum applicants from North Korea and other countries in the East Asia region. Our reports are tailored to asylum cases in the UK, USA, Canada, and the EU, ensuring compliance with immigration law standards and expert witness requirements.
We provide in-depth analysis on the human rights situation in North Korea and other East Asia countries, addressing issues such as:

• Political Persecution: North Korea is infamous for its brutal regime that suppresses any form of dissent. Defectors who speak out against the government or who are suspected of political opposition face imprisonment in labor camps, torture, or even execution. Asylum seekers fleeing political persecution from North Korea can use expert reports to show the extreme risks they face due to their political beliefs.
• Religious Persecution: North Korea has one of the most repressive environments for religious freedom in the world. Religious minorities, especially Christians, face severe punishment, including execution, if caught practicing their faith. Asylum seekers from North Korea who practice a religion can present these risks in their asylum case, showing they face imminent harm if returned to their country.
• Ethnic Minority Persecution: North Korea is ethnically homogenous, and ethnic minorities, particularly defectors from China or those from North Korean families, are often targeted. Experts can demonstrate the extreme difficulty and danger faced by these groups in North Korea, where they are subjected to discriminatory policies and persecution.
• Freedom of Expression and Media Suppression: North Korea is known for its complete control over freedom of speech and the media. Citizens are heavily restricted in their access to information, and any attempt to criticize the regime or express independent views can result in imprisonment. Asylum applicants from North Korea can use expert reports to show how dissent is violently suppressed by the state.
• Labor and Human Rights Violations: North Korea is notorious for its use of forced labor, both within the country and abroad. Citizens, including defectors, are often forced to work in harsh conditions without pay. Asylum seekers can demonstrate the risks they face related to forced labor, particularly those who have been subjected to state-sanctioned exploitation.
• Gender-Based Violence: Women in North Korea often face gender-based violence, including sexual violence by state agents, forced marriages, and trafficking. Asylum seekers fleeing these dangers can use expert reports to substantiate claims of gender-based violence and the lack of state protection in North Korea.

Why Choose Our Expert Witness Reports?
Collective Expertise & Verification
Our reports are prepared by regional country experts, researchers, and legal analysts, ensuring accuracy and depth. Every report undergoes fact-checking and validation by our senior experts before submission.

Court-Tested Reports & Expert Testimony
Our experts are available to testify in court, reinforcing the credibility of the asylum applicant’s case. We follow the highest standards of expert witness reporting, including OSCOLA citation formatting and references to leading human rights organizations (Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNHCR, etc.).

Customized Reports for Each Case
We tailor each report to the specific applicant’s circumstances, linking their personal risks to the broader situation in their country of origin.

Strong Track Record of Success
Our reports have played a key role in successful asylum applications and appeals, helping individuals prove their risk of persecution.