(For related story, please click on [ID:nSEO153938])

SEOUL, July 2 (Reuters) - The following is a list of human rights abuses carried out by North Korea, according to a U.S. State Department report released earlier this year.

* Citizens denied freedom of speech, assembly and association.

* Use of arbitrary and unlawful killings to instill fear into the masses.

* Kidnapping and imprisonment of people without legal explanation.

* Severe torture and abuse, including forced abortions and sexual abuse in the case of female prisoners.

* Up to 200,000 political prisoners in correctional facilities for political offenses that include damaging pictures of state founder Kim Il-sung and current leader Kim Jong-il.

* Random security checks of private homes and communities.

* Correspondence and telephone conversations monitored by the government.

* Entire families sent to prison for one member's wrongdoings.

* Government control over all artistic and academic products.

* Police engaging in routine activities to control illegal circulation of foreign media.

* Freedom of religion harshly limited to the national belief in Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are supreme authorities.

* Restricted movement within North Korea and prohibition of emigration, for which the punishment can lead to death.

* No set rules for refugee protection.

* No public access to government information.

* Prevalent discrimination of gender and social status.

* Government officials receiving bribes to expedite human trafficking, which in many cases North Korean women are forced into prostitution.

* Forced labour, including minors.

* Additional human rights abuses, including withholding wages and citizens' exposure to hazardous conditions while working abroad for North Korean firms. (Reporting by Christine Kim and Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

AlertNet news is provided by