Hanoi:North Korea has criticized a U.S. government report on human trafficking within its borders, labeling it a "grave politically-motivated provocation" that demonstrates Washington's "hostile" stance toward Pyongyang.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. State Department's 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, released on Thursday, places North Korea in the lowest Tier 3 group for anti-human trafficking efforts. This ranking aligns North Korea with countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba, marking the 24th consecutive year that Pyongyang has been classified in this category.
A spokesperson for North Korea's foreign ministry, in a statement distributed by the Korean Central News Agency, accused the U.S. report of containing "lies, fabrications, prejudice, and hostility." The spokesperson argued that the report exemplifies the U.S.'s intention to "politicize and weaponize human rights" as part of its antagonistic policies against North Korea.
The spokesperson further criticized the report as an infringement on North Korea's sovereignty and internal affairs, calling it a "false document" intended to justify U.S. interference and attempts to overthrow foreign governments, including North Korea's. The statement warned that the U.S. human rights campaign against North Korea would meet with strong counteractions.
The U.S. report highlighted the North Korean government's involvement in human trafficking within political prison camps and labor training centers, using forced labor to fund government operations. It also noted that many North Koreans working abroad endure excessive working hours under hazardous conditions without access to their passports.