The United States has named North Korea as one of the worst human trafficking nations for the 16th consecutive year, citing its use of forced labor.

The State Department's annual "2018 Trafficking in Persons Report" put North Korea in the lowest Tier 3, together with China, Russia and Iran.

Releasing the report on Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. sees the tragic examples of forced labor in North Korea and untold number of North Korean citizens subjected to forced labor overseas by their own government, in many cases with the tacit approval of host governments.

The report said the North Korean government continued to use forced labor in prison camps and labor training centers, facilitated forced labor of students and exported forced labor to foreign companies. 

 A Tier 3 ranking can trigger American sanctions limiting access to U.S. and international foreign assistance.  

South Korea was placed among Tier 1 countries for the 16th straight year, along with other advanced nations like the U.S., Britain, France and Canada.

[Photo : YONHAP News]