I. Introduction: Identity Outlawed
North Korea remains one of the most hostile countries in the world for LGBT individuals, where any expression of non-heteronormative identity is criminalised and regarded as a direct threat to the regime’s ideological purity. Unlike in many nations where LGBT rights are debated or contested, in North Korea the very existence of LGBT identities is erased from law, society, and culture. For those who identify as LGBT, survival depends on absolute secrecy, as discovery can mean imprisonment, torture, or execution. This extreme environment drives some to flee the country, seeking dignity and safety abroad.

II. The Denial of LGBT Existence
North Korea officially denies the existence of LGBT people, framing homosexuality and gender diversity as ‘Western concepts’ incompatible with Korean culture. This denial erases the possibility of legal recognition, leaving LGBT individuals invisible in official discourse and vulnerable to unchecked persecution.

III. Criminalisation of Same-Sex Relations
Same-sex relationships are treated as criminal offences, punishable by imprisonment or forced labour. Accusations alone can result in severe punishment, as trials are opaque and often bypassed entirely in favour of immediate imprisonment. These laws foster fear and silence within the community, preventing even private expressions of identity.

IV. Surveillance and Secrecy
LGBT North Koreans live under constant surveillance, with informants reporting any behaviour deemed deviant or disloyal. This pervasive monitoring forces individuals into secrecy, denying them the ability to form relationships or safe communities. Isolation becomes a survival strategy, but also deepens trauma.

V. Forced Conformity and Marriage
The regime enforces strict heteronormative expectations, requiring men and women to marry and have children in service of the state’s ideology. LGBT individuals are pressured or coerced into heterosexual marriages, leaving them trapped in double lives and vulnerable to exposure.

VI. Punishments and Abuse
Punishments for LGBT identity include imprisonment, forced labour, and torture. Reports from defectors indicate that individuals accused of homosexuality have been executed as warnings to others. In prisons and labour camps, LGBT detainees are subjected to sexual violence, humiliation, and attempts at ‘re-education’ through brutality.

VII. Erasure in Education and Culture
North Korean education and cultural propaganda omit all reference to LGBT identities. This erasure ensures that younger generations grow up without knowledge of sexual diversity, reinforcing the state’s narrative that such identities do not exist. The absence of representation contributes to the isolation and vulnerability of those who identify as LGBT.

VIII. Gender Nonconformity as Treason
Gender-nonconforming individuals face additional dangers. Transgender identities are considered acts of treason against the state’s rigid gender roles. Those who fail to conform to expected appearances or behaviours are subjected to harassment, imprisonment, or worse.

IX. Stigma Within Families and Society
Beyond state persecution, LGBT North Koreans face stigma within their families and communities. Exposure often results in estrangement, violence, or denunciation to authorities. The lack of social acceptance leaves LGBT individuals with no safe spaces or networks of support.

X. Migration and Asylum
For LGBT citizens, escape abroad is often the only means of survival. Asylum applications frequently highlight the impossibility of living openly in North Korea, where even private relationships are criminalised. Exile provides the possibility of living authentically, though at the cost of leaving family and homeland behind.

XI. Diaspora Voices and Advocacy
Exiled LGBT North Koreans play an important role in shedding light on abuses that remain hidden behind the country’s borders. Their testimonies highlight the extreme erasure, persecution, and fear endured by those who remain inside. Advocacy by defectors amplifies international awareness of the plight of LGBT citizens in North Korea.

XII. Conclusion: Survival Through Silence or Escape
In North Korea, LGBT identity is treated not merely as illegal but as non-existent, criminalised entirely by both law and culture. The result is a society where survival depends on silence, secrecy, or escape abroad. Until the regime recognises the humanity of LGBT individuals, migration will remain the only viable path for those who refuse to deny who they are.