Hwasong concentration camp
Encyclopedia
Hwasong concentration camp (Hangeul: , also spelled Hwasŏng ) is a labor camp in North Korea
for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so (Penal-labor colony) No. 16.
county, North Hamgyong province in North Korea
. It is situated along the upper reaches of Hwasong river in a secluded mountain valley. The western border is mount Mantap-san (2205 m). In the north and east the camp reaches to the Orangchon river valley.
A total of around 10000 prisoners, many of them intraparty rivals of Kim Jong-il
with their families, live in the camp.
area at mount Mantap-san is just 2 km to the west of the camp border. Several defectors heard, that political prisoners were forced to dig tunnels and build underground facilities and to do nuclear radiation exposed labor.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
for political prisoners. The official name is Kwan-li-so (Penal-labor colony) No. 16.
Location
The camp is located in HwasŏngHwasong (North Korea)
Hwasong is a kun, or county, in North Hamgyong province, North Korea. Unlike many Korean districts which date from the Joseon Dynasty, Hwasong was created after liberation....
county, North Hamgyong province in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. It is situated along the upper reaches of Hwasong river in a secluded mountain valley. The western border is mount Mantap-san (2205 m). In the north and east the camp reaches to the Orangchon river valley.
Description
Hwasong camp is a lifetime penal-labor colony without any chance to be released. The entrance gate on the road from Hwasong and the ring fence with watch towers can be recognized on satellite images. The camp is around 549 km² (212 sq mi) wide and is the largest camp in North Korea.A total of around 10000 prisoners, many of them intraparty rivals of Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
with their families, live in the camp.
Purpose
The main purpose of Hwasong concentration camp is to isolate politically unreliable persons for lifetime from society. Moreover these people are exploited for hard and dangerous labor. The North Korean nuclear test2006 North Korean nuclear test
The 2006 North Korean nuclear test was the detonation of a nuclear device conducted on October 9, 2006 by North Korea.North Korea announced its intention to conduct a test on October 3, six days prior, and in doing so became the first nation to give warning of its first nuclear test...
area at mount Mantap-san is just 2 km to the west of the camp border. Several defectors heard, that political prisoners were forced to dig tunnels and build underground facilities and to do nuclear radiation exposed labor.
Human Rights
No Hwasong camp prisoner has yet managed to escape from North Korea, so there are no witness accounts on the human rights situation in the camp. There was a report about a mass escape in 2007, but most escapees were soon captured.Prisoners (Witnesses)
There is no witness account on the camp, as no prisoners have managed to escape from North Korea.See also
- Human rights in North KoreaHuman rights in North KoreaThe human rights record of North Korea is extremely hard to fully assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country. The North Korean government makes it very difficult for foreigners to enter the country and strictly monitors their activities when they do...
- Kaechon concentration campKaechon concentration campKaechon 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 Kaechon concentration camp (Hangeul: , also spelled Kae'chŏn or Gaecheon) is a prison in North Korea with many...
- Yodok concentration campYodok concentration campYodok concentration camp is a political prison camp in North Korea. The official name is Kwan-li-so No. 15.-Location:...
External links
- Committee for Human Rights in North Korea – Overview on North Korean Prison Camps with Testimonies and Satellite Photographs