'guilt by association' crackdowns

北朝鮮にはやはり変化のきざしが見えつつあります。この'guilt by association' crackdownsもそうでしょうか。guilt by associationは「連座制」と訳されます。誰かが犯罪を犯した場合，それにつらなる人も罰せられるということですが，その制度を緩和する方向だそうです。もし事実なら大きな変化だと思います。（UG）

Kim Jong Un eases 'guilt by association' crackdowns in North Korea

BEIJING -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered North Korean officials to ease application of "guilt by association" when punishing people for political and thought crimes, the Mainichi has learned.

The order appeared in a record of statements dated March 27 that was obtained by the Mainichi. Based on Kim's statement, it is believed that North Korean authorities are revising extreme crackdowns on such crimes.

The move is seen as an offshoot from the "policies of kindness" promoted by Kim, and a sign that Kim is tweaking the past method of rule under which the lives of citizens were thrown into disarray through fear-based politics.

To solidify the rule of the Kim dynasty that continued from Kim Il Sung to Kim Jong Il, political and thought crimes were hitherto applied to entire families.

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