Like many other totalitarian regimes, North Korea has an elaborate system of prison camps and related facilities.
The North Korean prison camps can be distinguished as large internment camps for political prisoners (Kwan-li-so in Korean) or reeducation prison camps (Kyo-hwa-so).[1] Camps have been established, closed and redesignated from time to time making any complete accounting difficult. At one time, there may have been fourteen camps, but they have since been consolidated to perhaps five.[2] The population of the entire system may be about 200,000.[2]
| Name | Province | Location | Type | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bukchang concentration camp #18 | P'yŏngan-namdo | Pukchang | Kwan-li-so | Coal mines |
| Kwan-li-so No.22 | Unknown | near Haengyŏng-ni | Unknown | Near Chinese and Russian frontier, perhaps the largest camp in North Korea |
| Chongjin concentration camp #18 | North Hamgyong | Chongjin | Kwan-li-so | Bicycle factory |
| Chongori concentration camp #12 | Hoeryong | Chongori | Kyo-hwa-so | logging and copper mine |
| Hwasong concentration camp #16 | Hwasong | near Mantap-san | Kwan-li-so | Near the North Korean nuclear test site |
| Kaechon concentration camp #1 | South Pyongan | abbuting Kaechon | Kyo-hwa-so | |
| Kaechon internment camp #14 | South Pyongan | Kaechon | Kwan-li-so | |
| Onsong concentration camp #12 | North Hamgyong | Onsong | Kwan-li-so | After a May, 1987 rebellion, all the prisoners were killed and the camp closed. |
| Sunghori concentration camp | Unknown | "70 KM from the capital" | Unknown | |
| Taehŭng concentration camp | South Hamgyong | near Tanchon | Unknown | |
| Yodok concentration camp #15 | South Hamgyong | Yodok | Kwan-li-so |