North Korea is granting a general prisoner amnesty starting August 1st.
The move comes as Pyongyang celebrates the 70th anniversary of its regime's foundation on September 9th.
North Korea says it is protecting the independent and creative lives of its people by applying a people-first principle... and that this stands at the core of the North Korean-style socialist system.
The regime granted a prisoner amnesty three years ago in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.
The move is seen as an attempt by Pyongyang to strengthen unity and loyalty to the regime... amid the political turnaround following the first North Korea-U.S. summit in June.