Page "Politics of North Korea" Paragraph 21

North Korea's fifth and current constitution was approved and adopted in September 1998, replacing the one previously adopted in 1972.

The former constitution had last been amended in 1992.

Under the constitution, North Korea has an unusual legal system based upon German civil law and influenced by Japanese legal theory.

Criminal penalties can be stiff ; one of the basic functions of the system is to uphold the power of the regime.

Because so little information is available concerning what actually occurs inside of the country, the extent to which there is any rule of law is uncertain.

In any case, North Korea is known for its poor human rights situation and regularly detains thousands of dissidents without trial or benefit of legal advice.

According to a US Department of State report on human rights practices, the government of North Korea often punishes the family of a criminal along with the perpetrator.