Public executions have more than tripled in North Korea since the dictatorship in late 2009 redenominated its currency and in the process sparked widespread public discontent, according to a recent report seen by The Japan Times.

According to the confidential South Korean government report obtained by Lee Young Hwa, an economics professor at Kansai University, 52 North Koreans were publicly executed between December 2009 and last November, compared with 16 reported executions between January and November 2009.

In the currency redenomination, which took place Nov. 30, 2009, citizens were required to turn in their old currency in exchange for new money at a rate of 100 old won to 1 new won. The government drastically limited the amount of old North Korean won that an individual could exchange, leaving many with piles of valueless paper.