By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea – Despite the recent revision in their constitution calling for more respect on human rights, North Korea is estimated to be holding 154,000 political prisoners in six prison camps.

North Korean camp.  Courtesy of Michael Danby. 

These political prisoners are held in separate camps from other criminals, i.e., those who commit robbery or murder, and are forced to work for more than ten hours a day for only about 200 grams of food. 

The prisoners, usually dissidents, defectors who have tried and failed in fleeing North Korea and those who have been “accused of being disrespectful towards the leadership” or lost a political power struggle, are also said to be denied any medical care.  They are forbidden from communicating with family members as well.

A South Korean government official, Yoon Sang-hyun, reported that North Korea had about 200,000 political prisoners in ten camps in the 1990s, but North Korea closed four of these camps after condemnation from the international community.

Yoon said, “North Korea perpetrates various crimes against humanity, including public executions, tortures or rapes, against those who try to escape.”

North Korea does have a history of being among the world’s worst human rights abusers, but North Korea has rejected any criticism on its human rights violations and the existence of gulags.

In another study released by the U.S. Congress, there were reports that North Korea’s concentration camps have “evolved into a mechanism for extorting money from citizens trading in private markets.” 

This report said that there has been a rise in “market activity” in recent years in North Korea, and markets are the “only source of food” for the poor.  However, the North Korean government has banned such market activity, arresting those who engage in market activity as “economic criminals” and sending them to camps. 

These economic criminals, held separately from political prisoners, are held in low-level labor camps and are allowed to go home in about one month.

Nonetheless, reports state that North Korean authorities have “extraordinary discretion” in determining who goes to these labor camps and who gets to leave.  Furthermore, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il has absolute power and executions are carried out under Kim’s discretion.
 

For more information, please see:

 
BBC – North Korea gulags ‘hold 150,000’ – 17 October 2009

Canadian Press – North Korea holds 154,000 political prisoners in 6 camps: S Korean lawmaker says – 17 October 2009

Chosun Ilbo – N.Korean Officials “Use Gulag to Extort Bribes’ – 7 October 2009

Korea Times – N. Korea Holding 154,000 Political Prisoners – 17 October 2009