A/HRC/42/10 67. To address the food problem, the Law on Farms had been amended and the Regulations on the Responsible Management of Farms had been adopted. Additionally, significant resources had been devoted to the agricultural sector. The State had also set up cereal stores in provinces, cities and counties for the sale of surplus cereal, which had contributed to keeping the price of cereal stable and implementing the State’s food administration policy. 68. Freedom of religion, as well as the restrictions upon its exercise, was explicitly provided for in article 68 of the Constitution. The State respected religious life and ceremonies; however, it did not condone or tolerate any attempts or manoeuvres by the hostile forces to use religion as a means to overthrow its political system or violate public order. 69. The State had strengthened its National Committee for the Implementation of the International Human Rights Treaties and reorganized its internal structure, enhancing the role of its secretariat and system of data collection. It was conducting awareness-raising campaigns, publishing human rights-related materials, preparing reports to the international human rights mechanisms and distributing their recommendations. 70. The songbun system of social classification was not practised in the country. All citizens had, and enjoyed, equal rights in all spheres, and domestic legislation provided for the principles of equality and non-discrimination. The State paid special attention to those most in need and took care of them, ensuring that no one was left behind. 71. Concerning law enforcement and judicial matters, the principle of division of powers had long been adhered to in the country. The right to a fair trial was guaranteed by law. The rights of accused persons were guaranteed by the Criminal Procedure Law, in accordance with the requirements of the relevant international conventions. The right to appeal was guaranteed. 72. Public prosecutors were empowered by law to exercise oversight over the proceedings of investigations, preliminary examinations and trials to ensure that law enforcement officials did not commit violations of the law. Additionally, criminal proceedings were recorded, including the interrogation and examination of suspects and accused persons, and submitted to court review. 73. Regarding reform institutions, the labour performed by prisoners as required by a conclusive court judgment did not qualify as forced labour. Prisoners were treated in conformity with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). Monitoring of reform institutions was undertaken by the prosecutors in the concerned area. 74. The Criminal Law and the Criminal Procedure Law did not contain terms such as “political prisoner” or “political prison camps”. Those laws stated that those who had committed offences against the State or other ordinary crimes should be committed to reform institutions. 75. The death penalty was imposed on those who had committed crimes against the State and those who had committed extremely serious and unpardonable crimes. Such cases were tried in the provincial courts, and subsequently brought before the Central Court and then the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly for review and approval. The death penalty was not imposed on those who were under 18 years of age at the time that they had committed the offence. It was also not carried out against pregnant women. The death penalty was carried out in public only in rare cases, after strong requests by the victim’s family and other concerned persons. 76. The Criminal Law did not contain the penalty of “guilt by association”. 77. Those who had crossed the border for economic reasons without permission were not subjected to any punishment, but were given warnings and were allowed to resume their normal life. Fugitives from justice and those who were repatriated from the neighbouring country for having committed serious violations of the law, such as smuggling, were dealt with in accordance with the law. 6