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Kaechon internment camp

January 01, 1970

Kaechon Internment Camp (Korean: 개천 제14호 관리소, also spelled Kae'chŏn or Gaecheon) 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 (Penal-labor colony) No. 14. The camp is commonly known as Camp 14. It is not to be confused with the Kaechon concentration camp (Kyo-hwa-so No. 1), which is located 20 km (12 mi) to the northwest. Nearest train station is the Oedong station of the Taegon Line.

Kaechon internment camp
Chosŏn'gŭl
개천 제14호 관리소
Hancha
价川第十四號管理所
Revised RomanizationGaecheon Je14ho Gwalliso
McCune–ReischauerKaechŏn Che14ho Kwalliso
Chosŏn'gŭl
개천 정치범수용소
Hancha
价川政治犯收容所
Revised RomanizationGaecheon Jeongchibeom Suyongso
McCune–ReischauerKaechŏn Chŏngch'ibŏm Suyongso

Description edit

 
 
Pyongyang
 
Kaechon
class=notpageimage|
Location of Kaechon camp in North Korea

The camp was established around 1959[1] in central North Korea near Kae'chŏn county, South Pyongan Province. It is situated along the middle reaches of the Taedong river, which forms the southern boundary of the camp, and includes the mountains north of the river, including Purok-san. Bukchang, a concentration camp (Kwan-li-so No.18) adjoins the southern banks of the Taedong River. The camp is about 155 km2 (60 sq mi) in area, with farms, mines, and factories threaded through the steep mountain valleys.[2][3][4] The camp includes overcrowded barracks that house males, females, and older children separately, a headquarters with administrative buildings, and guard housing.[5] Altogether around 15,000 are imprisoned in Kaechon internment camp.[6]

Purpose edit

The main purpose of the Kaechon internment camp is to keep politically unreliable individuals classed "unredeemable" by the North Korean government[1] isolated from society and to exploit their labour.[7] Those sent to the camp include officials perceived to have performed poorly in their job, people who criticize the regime, their children, anyone who was born in the camp, and anyone suspected of engaging in "anti-government" activities.[8] Prisoners have to work in one of the coal mines, in agriculture, or in one of the factories that produce textiles, paper, food, rubber, shoes, ceramics, and cement. Livestock raising is considered the occupation of choice for the prisoners as it gives them the chance to steal animal food and pick through animal droppings for undigested grains.[6]

Human rights situation edit

Witnesses have reported that prisoners interred in the camp are required to work for long periods, often from 5:30 to midnight.[9] Even 11-year-old children have to work after school and thus rarely see their parents.[10] Other reports describe prisoners being beaten and severely punished for minor infractions.[11][12]

Food rations are scant, consisting of salted cabbage and corn. The prisoners are emaciated; they lose their teeth, and their gums blacken.[4] Many die of malnourishment, illness, work accidents, and the after-effects of torture. Many prisoners resort to eating frogs, insects, rats, snakes, and even cannibalism in order to try to survive.[1][11] Eating rat flesh helps prevent pellagra, a common disease in the camp resulting from the absence of protein and niacin in the diet. In order to eat anything outside of the prison-sanctioned meal, including these animals, prisoners must first get permission from the guards.[1]

Imprisoned witnesses edit

Shin Dong-hyuk edit

In his official biography Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden, Shin Dong-hyuk claimed that he was born in the camp and lived there until escaping in his early twenties. In 2015, Shin recanted some of this story.[13] Shin told Harden that he had changed some dates and locations and incorporated some "fictive elements" into his account. Harden outlined these revisions in a new foreword but did not revise the entire book. Shin said that he did not spend his entire North Korean life at Camp 14. Though maintaining that he was born there, he stated that, when he was young, his family was transferred to the less severe Camp 18, and spent several years there. He said that he was tortured in Camp 14 in 2002, as punishment for escaping from Camp 18.[14][15]

Kim Yong edit

Kim Yong (1995–1996 in Kaechon, then in Bukchang) was imprisoned after it was revealed that the two men who were executed as alleged US spies were his father and brother.[6] He witnessed approximately 25 executions in his section of the camp within less than two years.[16]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Blaine Harden (16 March 2012). . The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 9, 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Committee for Human Rights in North Korea: Satellite Imagery of the North Korean Gulag: Kwan-li-so No. 14 Kaechon Overview, p. 209" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  3. ^ North Korean Human Rights: Prison Camps in 2012..., ned.org; accessed October 30, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Harden, Blaine (July 20, 2009). "N. Korea's Hard-Labor Camps: On the Diplomatic Back Burner". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ "Committee for Human Rights in North Korea: Satellite Imagery of the North Korean Gulag: Kwan-li-so No. 14 Kaechon Headquarters" (PDF). p. 211. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  6. ^ a b c "Committee for Human Rights in North Korea: The Hidden Gulag (Section: Testimony Kwan-li-so No. 14 Kaechon, p. 48)" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  7. ^ , U.S. State Department Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, archived from the original on May 14, 2015, retrieved January 15, 2015
  8. ^ "End horror of North Korean political prison camps". Amnesty International. May 4, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  9. ^ Yang Jung A (2007-07-03). "My Mother is Executed. Yet I am not sad". Daily NK. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  10. ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (July 9, 2007). "Born and raised in a North Korean gulag". The New York Times.
  11. ^ a b Anderson Cooper (February 18, 2014). "UN witness describes horrors of North Korea (Anderson Cooper's remarkable interview with Shin Dong-hyuk, who was born in "Camp 14", a North Korean gulag described in a UN Human Rights report)". 60 Minutes Overtime.
  12. ^ Shin Dong-Hyuk (December 1, 2008). ""A Glimpse of Horror", Radio Free Asia". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  13. ^ Anna Fifield (17 January 2015). "Prominent N. Korean defector Shin Dong-hyuk admits parts of story are inaccurate". Washington Post.
  14. ^ Harden, Blaine (2015). "A new Foreword to Escape from Camp 14". blaineharden.com.
  15. ^ John Power (March 18, 2015). "Author of book on North Korea's founding addresses Shin controversy". NK News.
  16. ^ "The Hidden Gulag – Exposing Crimes against Humanity in North Korea's Vast Prison System (pp. 51-52)" (PDF). The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Retrieved April 25, 2012.

Further reading edit

  • Blaine Harden (March 29, 2012). Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West (HC (hardcover)). Viking. ISBN 978-0670023325.

External links edit

  • United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  • North Korea: Political Prison Camps - Amnesty International document on conditions in North Korean prison camps (May 2011).
  • "Committee for Human Rights in North Korea – Overview on North Korean Prison Camps with Testimonies and Satellite Photographs" (PDF). HRNK.org.
  • "Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (NGO): Political prisoner Shin Dong-hyuk tells about his life in the camp". NorthKoreanRefugees.com. September 2007.
  • "Born and raised in a North Korean gulag". The New York Times. July 7, 2007.
  • "Escapee Tells of Horrors in North Korean Prison Camp". Washington Post. December 11, 2008.
  • "Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights". Eng.NKHumanRights.or.kr. Witness accounts by North Korean refugees
  • . Daily NK. May 11, 2007. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
  • "One Free Korea: Camps 14 and 18, North Korea: Satellite Imagery". FreeKorea.us. Detailed satellite images with comprehensive explanations

39°34′16″N 126°03′20″E / 39.571086°N 126.055466°E / 39.571086; 126.055466

January 01, 1970
kaechon, internment, camp, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, factual, accuracy, disputed, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, . This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article s factual accuracy is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced January 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message The neutrality of this article is disputed Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met April 2020 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message Kaechon Internment Camp Korean 개천 제14호 관리소 also spelled Kae chŏn or Gaecheon 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 Penal labor colony No 14 The camp is commonly known as Camp 14 It is not to be confused with the Kaechon concentration camp Kyo hwa so No 1 which is located 20 km 12 mi to the northwest Nearest train station is the Oedong station of the Taegon Line Kaechon internment campChosŏn gŭl개천 제14호 관리소Hancha价川第十四號管理所Revised RomanizationGaecheon Je14ho GwallisoMcCune ReischauerKaechŏn Che14ho KwallisoChosŏn gŭl개천 정치범수용소Hancha价川政治犯收容所Revised RomanizationGaecheon Jeongchibeom SuyongsoMcCune ReischauerKaechŏn Chŏngch ibŏm Suyongso Contents 1 Description 2 Purpose 3 Human rights situation 3 1 Imprisoned witnesses 3 1 1 Shin Dong hyuk 3 1 2 Kim Yong 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksDescription edit nbsp nbsp Pyongyang nbsp Kaechonclass notpageimage Location of Kaechon camp in North Korea The camp was established around 1959 1 in central North Korea near Kae chŏn county South Pyongan Province It is situated along the middle reaches of the Taedong river which forms the southern boundary of the camp and includes the mountains north of the river including Purok san Bukchang a concentration camp Kwan li so No 18 adjoins the southern banks of the Taedong River The camp is about 155 km2 60 sq mi in area with farms mines and factories threaded through the steep mountain valleys 2 3 4 The camp includes overcrowded barracks that house males females and older children separately a headquarters with administrative buildings and guard housing 5 Altogether around 15 000 are imprisoned in Kaechon internment camp 6 Purpose editThe main purpose of the Kaechon internment camp is to keep politically unreliable individuals classed unredeemable by the North Korean government 1 isolated from society and to exploit their labour 7 Those sent to the camp include officials perceived to have performed poorly in their job people who criticize the regime their children anyone who was born in the camp and anyone suspected of engaging in anti government activities 8 Prisoners have to work in one of the coal mines in agriculture or in one of the factories that produce textiles paper food rubber shoes ceramics and cement Livestock raising is considered the occupation of choice for the prisoners as it gives them the chance to steal animal food and pick through animal droppings for undigested grains 6 Human rights situation editWitnesses have reported that prisoners interred in the camp are required to work for long periods often from 5 30 to midnight 9 Even 11 year old children have to work after school and thus rarely see their parents 10 Other reports describe prisoners being beaten and severely punished for minor infractions 11 12 Food rations are scant consisting of salted cabbage and corn The prisoners are emaciated they lose their teeth and their gums blacken 4 Many die of malnourishment illness work accidents and the after effects of torture Many prisoners resort to eating frogs insects rats snakes and even cannibalism in order to try to survive 1 11 Eating rat flesh helps prevent pellagra a common disease in the camp resulting from the absence of protein and niacin in the diet In order to eat anything outside of the prison sanctioned meal including these animals prisoners must first get permission from the guards 1 Imprisoned witnesses edit Shin Dong hyuk edit In his official biography Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden Shin Dong hyuk claimed that he was born in the camp and lived there until escaping in his early twenties In 2015 Shin recanted some of this story 13 Shin told Harden that he had changed some dates and locations and incorporated some fictive elements into his account Harden outlined these revisions in a new foreword but did not revise the entire book Shin said that he did not spend his entire North Korean life at Camp 14 Though maintaining that he was born there he stated that when he was young his family was transferred to the less severe Camp 18 and spent several years there He said that he was tortured in Camp 14 in 2002 as punishment for escaping from Camp 18 14 15 Kim Yong edit Kim Yong 1995 1996 in Kaechon then in Bukchang was imprisoned after it was revealed that the two men who were executed as alleged US spies were his father and brother 6 He witnessed approximately 25 executions in his section of the camp within less than two years 16 See also editCamp 14 Total Control Zone Human rights in North Korea Kaechon concentration camp Prisons in North Korea Pukchang concentration camp Slavery Yodok concentration campReferences edit a b c d Blaine Harden 16 March 2012 How one man escaped from a North Korean prison camp The Guardian Archived from the original on May 9 2012 Retrieved 4 February 2013 Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Satellite Imagery of the North Korean Gulag Kwan li so No 14 Kaechon Overview p 209 PDF Retrieved 2012 12 07 North Korean Human Rights Prison Camps in 2012 ned org accessed October 30 2014 a b Harden Blaine July 20 2009 N Korea s Hard Labor Camps On the Diplomatic Back Burner The Washington Post Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Satellite Imagery of the North Korean Gulag Kwan li so No 14 Kaechon Headquarters PDF p 211 Retrieved 2012 12 07 a b c Committee for Human Rights in North Korea The Hidden Gulag Section Testimony Kwan li so No 14 Kaechon p 48 PDF Retrieved 2012 12 07 Prison Camps of North Korea Camp 14 Kaechon U S State Department Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor archived from the original on May 14 2015 retrieved January 15 2015 End horror of North Korean political prison camps Amnesty International May 4 2011 Retrieved January 15 2014 Yang Jung A 2007 07 03 My Mother is Executed Yet I am not sad Daily NK Retrieved 2012 12 10 Sang Hun Choe July 9 2007 Born and raised in a North Korean gulag The New York Times a b Anderson Cooper February 18 2014 UN witness describes horrors of North Korea Anderson Cooper s remarkable interview with Shin Dong hyuk who was born in Camp 14 a North Korean gulag described in a UN Human Rights report 60 Minutes Overtime Shin Dong Hyuk December 1 2008 A Glimpse of Horror Radio Free Asia Radio Free Asia Retrieved 2012 12 07 Anna Fifield 17 January 2015 Prominent N Korean defector Shin Dong hyuk admits parts of story are inaccurate Washington Post Harden Blaine 2015 A new Foreword to Escape from Camp 14 blaineharden com John Power March 18 2015 Author of book on North Korea s founding addresses Shin controversy NK News The Hidden Gulag Exposing Crimes against Humanity in North Korea s Vast Prison System pp 51 52 PDF The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Retrieved April 25 2012 Further reading editBlaine Harden March 29 2012 Escape from Camp 14 One Man s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West HC hardcover Viking ISBN 978 0670023325 External links editUnited Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People s Republic of Korea North Korea Political Prison Camps Amnesty International document on conditions in North Korean prison camps May 2011 Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Overview on North Korean Prison Camps with Testimonies and Satellite Photographs PDF HRNK org Life Funds for North Korean Refugees NGO Political prisoner Shin Dong hyuk tells about his life in the camp NorthKoreanRefugees com September 2007 Born and raised in a North Korean gulag The New York Times July 7 2007 Escapee Tells of Horrors in North Korean Prison Camp Washington Post December 11 2008 Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights Eng NKHumanRights or kr Witness accounts by North Korean refugees Escape from Total Control Zone North Korea s Papillon Daily NK May 11 2007 Archived from the original on July 16 2011 Retrieved April 15 2010 One Free Korea Camps 14 and 18 North Korea Satellite Imagery FreeKorea us Detailed satellite images with comprehensive explanations 39 34 16 N 126 03 20 E 39 571086 N 126 055466 E 39 571086 126 055466 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kaechon internment camp amp oldid 1212517584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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