A human&nbsp;rights group on Monday said that&nbsp;North Korean justice system treats people ''less than an animal''.

US-based Human Rights Watch called&nbsp;out the country's&nbsp;pretrial detention system and legal processes for the torture, humiliation and coerced confessions on&nbsp;detainees and officials.

North Korea has been&nbsp;accused of widespread rights abuses by the United Nations and other critics, is a "closed" country and little is known about its criminal justice system.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-uns-top-aide-executed-by-north-korean-death-squad-reports-26770">Kim Jong-un's top aide executed by North Korean death squad: Reports</a>

The rights group&nbsp;drew on interviews with dozens of former North Korean detainees and officials to highlight what it called inhuman conditions at detention facilities that often amount to torture.

Mistreatment of detainees,&nbsp;beating with a stick or kicking,&nbsp;was "especially harsh" in the early stages of pretrial detention, interviewees said.

"The regulations say there shouldn't be any beatings, but we need confessions during the investigation and early stages of the preliminary examination," a former police officer said. "So you have to hit them in order to get the confession."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-officials-to-be-punished-after-typhoon-causes-dozens-of-casualties-325465">North Korea officials to be punished after typhoon causes 'dozens of casualties'</a>

Former detainees said they were forced to sit still on the floor, kneeling or with their legs crossed, for as long as 16 hours a day, with even a flicker of movement leading to punishment.

The punishments ranged from hitting,&nbsp;using hands, sticks, or leather belts,&nbsp;to forcing them to run in circles around a yard up to 1,000 times.

"If I or others moved (in the cell), the guards would order me or all the cellmates to extend our hands through the cell bars and would step on them repeatedly with their boots," said former detainee Park Ji Cheol.

Yoon Young Cheol, another former detainee, added: "There, you are just treated like you are worth less than an animal, and that's what you end up becoming."

Some female interviewees testified to rampant sexual violence at the facilities.

Kim Sun Young, a former trader in her 50s who fled North Korea in 2015 said she had been raped by her interrogator at a detention centre.

Another police officer sexually assaulted her by touching her underneath her clothes while interrogating her, Kim added, but said she had been "powerless to resist".

The report called on Pyongyang to "end endemic torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in detention" and urged South Korea, the United States and other UN member states to "publicly and privately pressure the North Korean government".

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is the third generation of his family to rule the country, where state surveillance is widespread and dissent not tolerated.

The country already stands accused by the UN of "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations that range from torture, extrajudicial killings to running prison camps.

Pyongyang maintains that it protects and promotes "genuine human rights", and says there is no justification for the West to try to set human rights standards for the rest of the world.

It condemns international criticism on the issue as a smear campaign to undermine its "sacred socialist system".

A human rights group on Monday said that North Korean justice system treats people ''less than an animal''. US-based Human Rights Watch called out the country's pretrial detention system and legal processes for the torture, humiliation and coerced confessions on detainees and officials.

A human rights group on Monday said that North Korean justice system treats people ''less than an animal''. US-based Human Rights Watch called out the country's pretrial detention system and legal processes for the torture, humiliation and coerced confessions on detainees and officials. North Korea has been accused of widespread rights abuses by the United Nations and other critics, is a "closed" country and little is known about its criminal justice system. Also read: Kim Jong-un's top aide executed by North Korean death squad: Reports The rights group drew on interviews with dozens of former North Korean detainees and officials to highlight what it called inhuman conditions at detention facilities that often amount to torture. Mistreatment of detainees, beating with a stick or kicking, was "especially harsh" in the early stages of pretrial detention, interviewees said. "The regulations say there shouldn't be any beatings, but we need confessions during the investigation and early stages of the preliminary examination," a former police officer said. "So you have to hit them in order to get the confession." Also read: North Korea officials to be punished after typhoon causes 'dozens of casualties' Former detainees said they were forced to sit still on the floor, kneeling or with their legs crossed, for as long as 16 hours a day, with even a flicker of movement leading to punishment. The punishments ranged from hitting, using hands, sticks, or leather belts, to forcing them to run in circles around a yard up to 1,000 times. "If I or others moved (in the cell), the guards would order me or all the cellmates to extend our hands through the cell bars and would step on them repeatedly with their boots," said former detainee Park Ji Cheol. Yoon Young Cheol, another former detainee, added: "There, you are just treated like you are worth less than an animal, and that's what you end up becoming." Some female interviewees testified to rampant sexual violence at the facilities. Kim Sun Young, a former trader in her 50s who fled North Korea in 2015 said she had been raped by her interrogator at a detention centre. Another police officer sexually assaulted her by touching her underneath her clothes while interrogating her, Kim added, but said she had been "powerless to resist". The report called on Pyongyang to "end endemic torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in detention" and urged South Korea, the United States and other UN member states to "publicly and privately pressure the North Korean government". North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is the third generation of his family to rule the country, where state surveillance is widespread and dissent not tolerated. The country already stands accused by the UN of "systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations that range from torture, extrajudicial killings to running prison camps. Pyongyang maintains that it protects and promotes "genuine human rights", and says there is no justification for the West to try to set human rights standards for the rest of the world. It condemns international criticism on the issue as a smear campaign to undermine its "sacred socialist system".

Human Rights Watch says North Korean justice system treats people worse than animals

The US government is looking into reports that three Americans detained in North Korea have been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a US official said on Wednesday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no immediate confirmation of any change in the detainees' status. Trump administration officials have pressed for their release as a show of goodwill by North Korea before the unprecedented US-North Korea summit expected in late May or early June.

"As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump said in a Twitter post late on Wednesday.

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As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!
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Earlier on Wednesday, South Korean media reports quoted a South Korean activist as saying North Korea had relocated the three Americans from a labour camp to a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang. Choi Soung-yong, the activist, told Reuters that Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul were moved in early April following instructions from superior authorities, citing residents in Pyongyang.

The United States and North Korea "seem to have decided on a date to release these people," said Choi. "North Korea probably wants to straighten out their affairs rehabilitate them."

The activist added the three were being kept in separate rooms in the same hotel and said he did not know what had happened to them since being relocated.

"We cannot confirm the validity of these reports," a US&nbsp;State Department spokeswoman said.

"The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible," she said.

Randall Brandt, a spokesman for Tony Kim’s family, said in an email: "While we are encouraged by overall momentum, the family has no indication of a release and has had no contact with Tony since Ambassador Yun last June."

He was referring to Joseph Yun, the State Department's former North Korea negotiator, who saw the detainees on a visit to Pyongyang last year.

Sol Kim, the son of detainee Tony Kim, said on social media that he is optimistic but has no information.

"We are hopeful but we have no indication that they have been released. Thank you for your continued prayers and efforts to help bring them home," he said.

The US government is looking into reports that three Americans detained in North Korea have been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

The US government is looking into reports that three Americans detained in North Korea have been relocated from a labour camp to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a US official said on Wednesday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there was no immediate confirmation of any change in the detainees' status. Trump administration officials have pressed for their release as a show of goodwill by North Korea before the unprecedented US-North Korea summit expected in late May or early June. "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump said in a Twitter post late on Wednesday. As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 × Earlier on Wednesday, South Korean media reports quoted a South Korean activist as saying North Korea had relocated the three Americans from a labour camp to a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang. Choi Soung-yong, the activist, told Reuters that Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul were moved in early April following instructions from superior authorities, citing residents in Pyongyang. The United States and North Korea "seem to have decided on a date to release these people," said Choi. "North Korea probably wants to straighten out their affairs rehabilitate them." The activist added the three were being kept in separate rooms in the same hotel and said he did not know what had happened to them since being relocated. "We cannot confirm the validity of these reports," a US State Department spokeswoman said. "The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible," she said. Randall Brandt, a spokesman for Tony Kim’s family, said in an email: "While we are encouraged by overall momentum, the family has no indication of a release and has had no contact with Tony since Ambassador Yun last June." He was referring to Joseph Yun, the State Department's former North Korea negotiator, who saw the detainees on a visit to Pyongyang last year. Sol Kim, the son of detainee Tony Kim, said on social media that he is optimistic but has no information. "We are hopeful but we have no indication that they have been released. Thank you for your continued prayers and efforts to help bring them home," he said.

US checks reports three American detainees relocated in North Korea

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Human Rights Watch says North Korean justice system treats people worse than animals

US checks reports three American detainees relocated in North Korea