03/10/2012 JAL Case No Country Mandate(s) Summary of the allegation transmitted PRK 1/2012 Democratic People's Republic of Korea Arbitrary detention; Disappearances; DPR Korea; Summary executions; Torture; Alleged use of labour camps for political prisoners and pattern of human rights violations committed therein. According to the information received, labour camps, also known as kwan-li-so, for political prisoners have been in operation since the 1950s in the Democratic People‘s Republic of Korea. It is reported that individuals who have committed or are perceived to have committed a political crime are involuntarily or forcibly taken to an interrogation facility, detained, and typically subjected to torture until a confession is obtained. After being declared guilty by the State Security Protection Agency, the detainee is either executed immediately or transferred to a prison camp. Throughout their detention, prisoners are reportedly not given a trial and are held incommunicado without notice of the charges laid down against them, nor information on the length or place of detention. According to reports, detainees have been held in harsh conditions. Prisoners, including children, have been subjected to forced labour. It is further alleged that torture and public executions are common within the camps. Reports also suggest that women have been subjected to sexual exploitation, rapes, forced abortions and killings. In at least four camps, the majority of prisoners reportedly remain in custody until their deaths. Over the past few decades, an estimated number of at least 400,000 prisoners have reportedly perished in the camps. Reply A/HRC/22/67 114 Date Type