The North Korean prison system is a dark and grim reality that is shrouded in secrecy and obfuscation. The system is characterized by extrajudicial executions, rape, forced abortions, starvation rations, and torture, among other abuses. According to a report by the human rights organization Korea Future, the prison system is designed to isolate individuals who conflict with the authority of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, with the purpose of compelling unquestioning obedience and loyalty. The report provides a detailed picture of life inside North Korea’s secretive penal system, which the report claims is comparable to the Soviet Gulag.
Abuse in the Prisons
The Korea Future report alleges more than 1,000 instances of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, hundreds of instances of rape and other forms of sexual violence, and more than 100 cases of denial of the right to life. It identifies hundreds of active participants it alleges have participated in the violence and is calling for investigations and prosecutions for the abuses. The report alleges abuses are personally carried out by officials as high-ranking as major generals. The group has documented 206 detention facilities across every North Korean province, using satellite imagery and witness testimony to map the facilities.
The Scale of the Problem
The abuse in North Korean prisons is staggering in scale and scope. The testimonies of survivors paint a picture of a system that is brutal and relentless. According to the Korea Future report, the abuse is systematic and widespread, affecting thousands of people. The report alleges that the abuse is carried out not only by lower-ranking officials but also by high-ranking officials as high as major generals. This widespread and systematic abuse has been going on for decades, and it is difficult to see how it can be eradicated.
Types of Abuse
The Korea Future report identifies four main categories of abuse, including arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment related to health, food, and sanitation, extrajudicial executions, and forced labor. Survivors reported being fed as little as 80 grams of corn per day, resulting in a starvation diet that forced some prisoners to supplement their diet with cockroaches and rodents. One woman was forced to have an abortion when seven or eight months pregnant. Others reported surviving on animal feed and becoming skeletally thin, witnessing rapes, and being subject to severe beatings.
Life in the Prisons
Life in North Korean detention facilities is a living nightmare. Survivors have reported being subject to forced labor, torture, and sexual violence. The Korea Future report includes details of the treatment of prisoners. Survivors reported being fed as little as 80 grams of corn per day, resulting in a starvation diet that forced some prisoners to supplement their diet with cockroaches and rodents. One woman was forced to have an abortion when seven or eight months pregnant. Others reported surviving on animal feed and becoming skeletally thin, witnessing rapes, and being subject to severe beatings.
Response to the Report
The Korea Future report is in line with the findings of recent investigations by the United Nations. North Korea frequently denies allegations of human rights abuses, claiming they are part of a US-orchestrated campaign against it. Due to the country’s self-imposed isolation, it is difficult to verify the accounts of former detainees. The testimonies of survivors are cross-checked for consistency, and the weight of evidence is very strong.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the situation in North Korean detention facilities is one of the most egregious examples of human rights violations in North Korea, and the world must not turn a blind eye to the atrocities being committed there. The abuse is systematic, widespread, and has been going on for decades. It is imperative that the international community takes action to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Many escapees do not have a concept of human rights and must be educated to recognize that what happened to them was abuse. The situation is still very dire, and the UN has concluded that the abuses reach the level of a crime against humanity. It is time for the world to stand up and demand justice for the victims of North Korea’s prison system.
Google News | Telegram
