Hamhung concentration camp | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 함흥 제9호 교화소 |
---|---|
Hancha | |
Revised Romanization | Hamheung Je9ho Gyohwaso |
McCune–Reischauer | Hamhŭng Che9ho Kyohwaso |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 함흥 정치범 수용소 |
Hancha | |
Revised Romanization | Hamheung Jeongchibeom Suyongso |
McCune–Reischauer | Hamhŭng Chŏngch'ibŏm Suyongso |
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Human rights in North Korea |
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Hamhung concentration camp (also spelled Hamheung) is a reeducation camp in North Korea. The official name of the camp is Kyo-hwa-so No. 9 (Reeducation camp no. 9). The sub-facility for women is sometimes called Kyo-hwa-so No. 15.[1]
The camp is located in Hamhung city, South Hamgyong province.[2] The main facility for male prisoners is situated in Hoesang-dong, about 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of downtown Hamhung. The sub-facility for female prisoners is across the railway station near Songwon-ri, a little village about 18 km (11 mi) northeast of the city center.[3] Smaller sub-facilities are in Chongpyong county and in Kowon county, both also in South Hamgyong province.
Hamhung concentration camp consists of five departments:[4]
Besides some common criminals there are many political prisoners, especially repatriated refugees in the camp.[1][5]
Many prisoners sleep on straw and grass.[6] In the 1st department prisoners sleep on the factory bridges to avoid the lice-infested concrete floor.[7] Food rations are very small and prisoners are always hungry.[1] They only get some steamed corn and a watery cabbage soup[5] or some bean porridge,[8] but no salt or protein. In order to survive, the prisoners eat raw mice, snakes, frogs and insects they can find[1] or grass, tree leaves or bark.[5] Some prisoners even eat undigested beans or corn kernels from cow dung, although they are punished when detected.[9] Ill prisoners still have to work to avoid beatings and reduced food rations.[1] There is just one military doctor in the prison, no medical devices and almost no medicine. Prisoners often get infected when getting injections.[10]
Former prisoners said they had to work from 5:00 a. m. (except in winter) to 7:00 p. m. with only two breaks.[1] In the 3rd department women have to do hard farm work with poor and inadequate tools regardless of the weather.[9] After dinner all prisoners have to attend re-education and mutual criticism sessions, often until 10:00 p.m.[1] If prisoners fail to memorize the teachings of Kim Il Sung, their prison term is extended.[8] The prison is surrounded by an electric fence and the prisoners are guarded by security officers 24 hours day and night.[11]
Former prisoners reported that inmates look like skeletons barely covered with skin[8] or skinny sticks with big heads.[12] In case prisoners do not meet their work quota[5] or violate rules (e. g. if they steal food) they are severely kicked or beaten with rifle butts or wooden sticks.[1] One of the witnesses described how she was beaten more than 30 times, though her head was injured and her ears and nose were bleeding.[13] Another common punishment is the significant reduction of food rations. Prisoners in solitary confinement get almost no food.[14] In 2003 a former prisoner witnessed a public execution by firing squad with all prisoners gathered to watch.[15] Witnesses testified that in winter 1999/2000 around 500 prisoners died in six months[16] Many of them died in hard and dangerous work, when a tunnel from Hamhung concentration camp to Oro concentration camp was dug.[6] Bang Mi-sun reported that during her 18-month prison term around 20% of prisoners in her work group and in other work groups died.[1] Corpses are burnt in large quantities in a furnace.[16] Female prisoners are often sexually assaulted and sometimes raped by security officers.[17] Pregnant women are taken outside the prison to get forced abortions.[18]