Kangdong concentration camp

Last updated
North Korea adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Kangdong
Blue pog.svg
Pyongyang
Location of Kangdong camp in North Korea
Kangdong concentration camp

Kangdong concentration camp (also spelled Gangdong) is a reeducation camp in North Korea. The official name of the camp is Kyo-hwa-so No. 4 (Reeducation camp no. 4).

Contents

The camp consists of a large prison compound situated between Samdung-ri and the Nam River, in Kangdong-gun, in South Pyongan province of North Korea, about 30 km (19 mi) east of downtown Pyongyang. [1]

The main section of the camp is around 250 m (820 ft) long and 200 m (660 ft) wide, surrounded by a high wall. [1] The whole camp is roughly 2 km (1.2 mi) long by 1.5 km (0.93 mi) wide, surrounded by a barbed-wire fence. In 1997 there used to be around 7,000 prisoners. [2] Most of them are either soldiers or residents of Pyongyang, [3] sentenced from 5 to 20 years. Working facilities include a cement factory, a coal mine, a limestone quarry, a glass factory and some agriculture. [4] [5]

Human rights situation

According to a former prisoner, an average of 500 prisoners die annually, mostly due to waterborne illnesses. [6] Another former prisoner reported high death rates due to work accidents, malnutrition, and disease. Seriously ill prisoners are sent home on sick leave to reduce the apparent number of deaths in detention. [2] In the limestone quarries the prisoners have to do hard labor in hazardous conditions, with prisoners often receiving or sustaining chest ailments and lung diseases from limestone dust. Moreover, as the prisoners are rarely allowed to wash their faces, many suffer from skin abrasions and infections. Prisoners live in unsanitary conditions; they sleep on the floor in groups of 50 to 100 people, without bathing or changing their clothes. Food rations consist of only 50 g (2 oz) of corn and wheat and some cabbage soup per meal [2] and all prisoners are seriously underweight. A former prisoner witnessed eight public executions during the eight months he was held in the camp. [2] Rule violations are punished with reduced rations, extended sentences, and detainment in very small punishment cells. There is a criticism session every week, in which the prison officials criticize prisoners in front of a large group of prisoners. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

Hoeryong concentration camp was a prison camp in North Korea that was reported to have been closed in 2012. The official name was KwallisoNo. 22. The camp was a maximum security area, completely isolated from the outside world.

The human rights record of North Korea is often considered to be the worst in the world and has been globally condemned, with the United Nations, the European Union and groups such as Human Rights Watch all critical of the country's record. Most international human rights organizations consider North Korea to have no contemporary parallel with respect to violations of liberty.

Yodok concentration camp was a kwalliso in North Korea. The official name was Kwan-li-so No. 15. The camp was used to segregate those seen as enemies of the state, punish them for political misdemeanors, and put them to hard labour. It was closed down in 2014.

The Onsong concentration camp was an internment camp in Changpyong, Onsong County, North Hamgyong, North Korea. It housed approximately 15,000 political prisoners. The camp was officially known as Concentration Camp (Kwan-li-so) No. 12.

Kaechon concentration camp is a prison in North Korea with many political prisoners. The official name is Kyo-hwa-so No. 1. It is not to be confused with Kaechon internment camp, which is located 20 km (12 mi) to the south-east.

Kangdong County, is one of Pyongyang's two suburban counties. In 1983 it was separated from South P'yongan Province and assumed direct governance by the Pyongyang City People's Committee. It is bordered by Sŏngch'ŏn-gun, South P'yongan in the north and east, Sŭngho-guyŏk from the south and the Taedong River from the west.

Kaechon Internment Camp is a labor camp in North Korea for political prisoners and descendants of alleged criminals. The official name for the camp is Kwan-li-so No. 14. The camp is commonly known as Camp 14. It is not to be confused with the Kaechon concentration camp, which is located 20 km (12 mi) to the northwest.

Pukch'ang concentration camp is a labor camp in North Korea for political prisoners. It is sometimes called Tŭkchang concentration camp. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 18.

Hwasong concentration camp is a labor camp in North Korea for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 16.

Chongjin concentration camp is a labour camp in North Korea for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 25. Satellite images show a major expansion of the camp after 2010.

Chongori concentration camp is a reeducation camp in North Korea. The official name of the camp is Kyo-hwa-so No. 12.

North Korean prison camps have conditions that are unsanitary, life-threatening and are comparable to historical concentration camps. A significant number of prisoners have died each year, since they are subject to torture and inhumane treatment. Public and secret executions of prisoners, even children, especially in cases of attempted escape, are commonplace. Infanticides also often occur. The mortality rate is exceptionally high, because many prisoners die of starvation, illnesses, work accidents, or torture.

Sinuiju concentration camp

Kyo-hwa-so No. 3 Sinuiju is a "reeducation camp" in North Pyongan, North Korea. It holds roughly 2,500 prisoners.

Ryongdam concentration camp

Kyo-hwa-so No. 8 Yongdam is a "reeducation camp" with c. 3,000 prisoners in Kangwon, North Korea.

Oro concentration camp

Kyo-hwa-so No. 22 Oro is a "reeducation camp" with ca. 1,000 prisoners in South Hamgyong, North Korea.

Tanchon concentration camp

Kyo-hwa-so No. 77 Tanchon is a "reeducation camp" with ca. 6,000 prisoners near Tanchon in South Hamgyong province, North Korea.

Hoeryong reeducation camp

Kyo-hwa-so Hoeryong is a "reeducation camp" in Hoeryong, in North Hamgyong province of North Korea. It is not to be confused with Haengyong political prison camp, which is located 10 km (6.2 mi) north-east of Hoeryong and is sometimes also called Hoeryong camp. It holds roughly 1,500 prisoners.

Hamhung concentration camp is a reeducation camp in North Korea. The official name of the camp is Kyo-hwa-so No. 9. The sub-facility for women is sometimes called Kyo-hwa-so No. 15.

Chungsan concentration camp is a reeducation camp in North Korea. Its official name is Kyo-hwa-so No. 11.

Kanggye concentration camp

Kyo-hwa-so No. 7 Kanggye is a "reeducation camp" in Kanggye, Chagang. Its number of prisoners and its state of operation is currently unknown.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Hidden Gulag – Exposing Crimes against Humanity in North Korea's Vast Prison System (p. 226)" (PDF). The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Hidden Gulag – Exposing Crimes against Humanity in North Korea's Vast Prison System (p. 109)" (PDF). The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Prisoners in North Korea Today" (PDF), Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, 1.3.5 Prisons (p. 70), July 15, 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2014, retrieved June 5, 2012
  4. ↑ "Prisoners in North Korea Today" (PDF), Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, 1.3.5 Prisons (p. 101), July 15, 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2014, retrieved June 5, 2012
  5. ↑ "Prisoners in North Korea Today" (PDF), Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, 6.2.3 Working Facilities and Productions (p. 390), July 15, 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2014, retrieved June 5, 2012
  6. ↑ "Prisoners in North Korea Today" (PDF), Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, 6.2.2 Medical Facilities (p. 375), July 15, 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2014, retrieved June 5, 2012

Coordinates: 39°00′32″N126°09′13″E / 39.00878°N 126.15369°E / 39.00878; 126.15369

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.