North Korea is seen as one of the most brutal regimes in earth, often compared to Nazi Germany. But how does it compare with more ancient kingdoms with absolute rulers? It seems to me that in ancient times, torturing, killing and raping innocent people was the norm.
Is living under the Kim Family rule worse then say, living under Vlad the Impaler?
I'm not an expert in mideval history, but I am somewhat knowledgeable North Korean punishments.
First off, North Korea obeys the ancient tradition of sending not only the criminal to jail, but also the three generations of that person's family to jail. This means that not just you will go to jail, but you and and your children. Some North Koreans have been born in jail, and only their children are allowed to be released.
Much of the punishments that North Koreans endure are somewhat closely guarded, but so far I have not heard of any beheadings, maimings, or public humiliation done to their people, though North Korea has the largest military to civilian population in the world.