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Prison camps · South Pyongan Province

Political prison camp · kwanliso

Camp 18, Pukchang

18호 북창 관리소

Camp 18 is located in Pukchang County, directly across the Taedong River from Camp 14. Historically operated by the regular police (Ministry of Social Security) rather than secret police, it forced tens of thousands of prisoners into dangerous coal extraction for the Pukchang thermal power plant. Former prisoner Kim Yong provided comprehensive testimony after escaping.

~27,000prisonersHRNK estimate
ClosedReported closed or merged
Social Securityrun byPolice
JagangKangwonNampoNorth HamgyongNorth HwanghaeNorth PyonganPyongyangRyanggangSouth HamgyongSouth HwanghaeSouth PyonganPukchangCamp 14, KaechonCamp 25, ChongjinCamp 15, YodokCamp 16, HwasongCamp 22, HoeryongKyo-hwa-so No. 8, YongdamKyo-hwa-so No. 11, Chung-sanKyo-hwa-so No. 7, KanggyeKyo-hwa-so No. 2, DongrimKyo-hwa-so No. 88, WonsanKyo-hwa-so No. 9, HamhungSunchon Kyo-hwa-soKyo-hwa-so No. 8, Sungho-riFacility at I-golFacility at UdanCh’oma-bong Restricted AreaKyo-hwa-so No. 3, SinuijuKyohwaso No. 1, KaechonKyo-hwa-so No. 4, KangdongKyohwaso No. 12, ChongoriKyo-hwa-so No. 6, SariwonKyo-hwa-so No. 22, OroKyo-hwa-so No. 77, Danchon
Pukchang · South Pyongan
Camp 18, Pukchang · 39.5596°N, 126.0860°EGoogle Maps ↗ · Imagery © Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics

Open on the intel map Pukchang county How the camp system works

Crimes against humanity

Whole families are sent to kwanliso without trial under guilt by association (yeonjwa-je). The 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry found these crimes in the political prison camps:

  • Extermination
  • Murder
  • Enslavement
  • Torture
  • Imprisonment
  • Rape
  • Forced abortion
  • Persecution
  • Enforced disappearance

Sources

Other facilities in South Pyongan Province