"I Escaped A North Korean Prison Camp" - Shin Dong-hyuk's Survivor Story

From You Tube: Shin Dong-hyuk was born inside Kaechon #14, one of the world's harshest labor camps. His parents were political prisoners, declared enemies of the state for having committed minor offenses against the North Korean regime. Shin was routinely subjected to torture and knew nothing of the outside world until his escape at the age of 23.

Today he is on a mission to tell the world his story. And to remind us of the estimated 200,000 other forced laborers currently languishing under the regime of Kim Jong-un.

North Korea's Gulags Are Still Operational

Satellite view of Camp 22

Satellite Images Show Gulags Still Operational In North Korea -- The Telegraph

Satellite images suggest that contrary to reports that Pyongyang had shut down its largest labour prison in June, Camp 22 is still serving as a penal gulag for thousands of inmates.

Media reports in South Korea had suggested that the camp, officially known as Penal Labour Colony 22, had been abandoned and the inmates dispersed to other prisons.

Imagery collected by the Washington-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea as recently as October 11 indicates the camp continues to function, it said in a report.

"Harvesting of crops continues, as does coal production, making it not yet clear that the camp has closed and that North Korean authorities have been slowly transferring small sections of prisoners out of Camp 22 and replacing them with a regular workforce from other locations," the group said in a statement.

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More News On North Korea's Gulags

North Korea's deadly Camp 22 penal gulag 'still operational' -- The Week
Satellite Images Show Gulags Are Still Operational In North Korea -- Business Insider
N. Korea's main gulag seems still operational: report -- Yonhap
Satellite photos suggest North Korean gulags still open -- Digital Journal
Daily Life in North Korea Is Still Horrible -- The Atlantic

Is North Korea Closing Camp 22?

(c) HRNK

North Korea's Most Notorious Secret Prison Reportedly Shut Down -- Business Insider

North Korea is thought to have as many as 200,000 prisoners in a secret political prison network, according to international experts, and the prisoners are said to be kept in brutal conditions.

However, there's some good news — NK News reports that one of the most largest and most notorious camps in that system has been shut down. A source told the website:

“Camp 22 in Hoiryeong was totally shut down in June. It was decided that it should be closed down after the warden who ran it and another officer ran away to China.”


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My Comment: As long as the system remains there will be other Camp 22s .... albeit with a different name. For more info on North Korea's gulags, go here.