A/HRC/22/57 journalists and others who seek to exercise their freedom of expression and opinion are incompatible with provisions under paragraph 3 of article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. State-controlled media have also been used to defame independent reporting through allegations attacking the integrity, morals and independence of journalists and media outlets. Complaints have been fabricated to discredit independent non-governmental organizations and journalists. 107 84. The Secretary-General also highlighted that the Government‟s control over the flow of information is strict and pervasive. The Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea‟s state news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, is the only source of information for all media outlets in the country.108 85. In 2012, the Special Rapporteur underlined that due to ambiguous terms in the Criminal Code of the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea, the State can impose severe restrictions on the enjoyment of freedom of opinion and expression. For instance, article 166 of the Code refers to punishment of a worker in the communications and broadcasting service sector who makes “irresponsible” communications or does not conduct broadcasting in a “normal manner”, resulting in “serious consequences”. The use of terms such as “normal manner”, “serious consequences” and “irresponsible” leaves scope for the Government to suppress freedom of opinion and expression. It should be noted that the universal right to freedom of expression includes the right to receive and impart information. “Article 195 of the Code provides for punishments, including short-term labour, for a person who listens to broadcasts that are hostile to the Republic or collects, keeps or distributes enemy propaganda, which can be broadly interpreted to restrict people in the exercise of their right to freedom of opinion and expression or to allow the Government to place severe restrictions on independent media in the country.” 109 Recommendations on freedom of expression 86. The Secretary-General urged the Government of the Democratic People‟s Republic of Korea to “to take decisive measures to respect the rights to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; assembly; and opinion and expression.” 110 Furthermore, the Special Rapporteur, in concert with the statements made by the Secretary-General, also noted that “freedom of opinion and expression is an indispensable condition for the full development of society, and the realization of a number of rights. To this end, he calls on the Government to provide greater space for independent media, free access to the Internet.”111 G. Violations of the right to life 87. Over many years the General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights have expressed their serious concern at the use of public executions and “imposition of the death penalty for political or religious reasons.” 112 In 2001, the Human Rights Committee 107 108 109 110 111 112 28 A/66/322, para 50 A/66/343, para 13 A/67/370, para 26 A/67/362, para 57 A/66/322, para 65 E/CN.4/RES/2005/11; E/CN.4/RES/2004/13; E/CN.4/RES/2003/10; A/RES/66/174; A/RES/65/225; A/RES/64/175