Shin dong-hyuk
In this video, I learned a lot of how it was to be in Camp 14. Camp 14 is a modern day concentration camp. When Kim Jong Il was in power, he started a punishment called three generations of punishment. This meant if your grandparents fought in the Korean War and went or wanted to go to the south, they would take them, your parents and yourself (brothers and sisters). They would have to stay in the concentration camp for three generations (grandparents, parents, you.) This was a way to kill off people who wanted to go to South Korea. The three generation punishment doesn't exist anywhere else in the whole world. Unlike the USA, these people do not get a trial of any sort; you just disappear.
In this camp, they are so isolated, some people that live there don't know about the outside world, but others that are sent in later in life have seen the outside world. In the video, Shin Dong Hyuk didn't even know the world was round. The education was not the best. They were mostly there to work and then die. There are very harsh living conditions in the camps for the prisoners. They are fed very little. They are only fed corn meal and cabbage. Their goal is to make it as long as you can. Some of the prisoners will even eat snakes and mice to survive. Sin Dong Hyuk says that you live like an animal. You are told everything that you're supposed to do. They live by the rules because it's the only thing they know.The rules are mandatory. If you thought about escaping, escaped and got caught or saw someone escape and did't say anything, you would get shot on the spot or there would be a public execution. This is when everyone stopped working and was brought to a yard-like meeting place and was killed. All of the prisoners were forced to watch every execution. To some of the people this was nice because it was a break from all the yard work. After a while you stop caring about people when you see someone get killed almost everyday, if not everyday. If you were a hard worker, you could get married and have kids but you would never see your kids or your spouse. For the Koreans, this was a bigger work force. Shin Dong Hyuk never saw or heard about the outside world until he was 23.
In Camp 14 there is believed to be 15,000 people. There is known to be 6 camps that are in existence in North Korea, maybe more. They believe there is 150,000 people in these modern day concentration camps. North Korea says they do not have any camps of any kind like that, but yet they talk about political camps which is the same thing, but they would never admit to it. This is why Shin Dong Hyuk is so big to help and support the human rights in North Korea.
In this camp, they are so isolated, some people that live there don't know about the outside world, but others that are sent in later in life have seen the outside world. In the video, Shin Dong Hyuk didn't even know the world was round. The education was not the best. They were mostly there to work and then die. There are very harsh living conditions in the camps for the prisoners. They are fed very little. They are only fed corn meal and cabbage. Their goal is to make it as long as you can. Some of the prisoners will even eat snakes and mice to survive. Sin Dong Hyuk says that you live like an animal. You are told everything that you're supposed to do. They live by the rules because it's the only thing they know.The rules are mandatory. If you thought about escaping, escaped and got caught or saw someone escape and did't say anything, you would get shot on the spot or there would be a public execution. This is when everyone stopped working and was brought to a yard-like meeting place and was killed. All of the prisoners were forced to watch every execution. To some of the people this was nice because it was a break from all the yard work. After a while you stop caring about people when you see someone get killed almost everyday, if not everyday. If you were a hard worker, you could get married and have kids but you would never see your kids or your spouse. For the Koreans, this was a bigger work force. Shin Dong Hyuk never saw or heard about the outside world until he was 23.
In Camp 14 there is believed to be 15,000 people. There is known to be 6 camps that are in existence in North Korea, maybe more. They believe there is 150,000 people in these modern day concentration camps. North Korea says they do not have any camps of any kind like that, but yet they talk about political camps which is the same thing, but they would never admit to it. This is why Shin Dong Hyuk is so big to help and support the human rights in North Korea.
Other ACCOUNTS
When asking people all around the world about what happens in North Korea, there was a surprising amount of people that knew about the exterminations, murders, enslavement, torture, rape, forced abortions, sexual violence, religion and even the prison camps. All of these are crimes against humanity.
Repatriated defectors are treated horribly. One witness recalled a family that had been repatriated to his hometown. They were dragged through the town by rings pierced through their noses while townspeople threw rocks at them. Defectors are punished for a long period of time, starved, tortured, and beaten.
Women's rights are unfair still to this day in North Korea. They are supposed to wear skirts and black shoes. This is enforced. As for sexual abuse, in private or in public, there is very little state protection or punishment.
When you get in trouble at prison camps, you are sent into a cell. Cell doors are less than three feet in height, so people have to enter them by crawling. One former prisoner said that he was told by a guard, “When you get to this prison you are not human, you are just like animals, and as soon as you get to this prison, you have to crawl just like animals.”
In the event of war, guards at the secret prison camps are under orders to exterminate the prisoners and destroy all evidence of the camps. North Korea says they don't have camps like this but they have controlled areas.
Forced labor is a way of life in the camps. Children start working at the age five. They are forced to work with very little sleep and very little food. Everyone in the prison camps suffer from starvation. Witnesses say that people eat grass roots, dirt, bark, mice and snakes. At this rate, many people die. The prisoners are forced to bury the other dead prisoners in mass graves.
Repatriated defectors are treated horribly. One witness recalled a family that had been repatriated to his hometown. They were dragged through the town by rings pierced through their noses while townspeople threw rocks at them. Defectors are punished for a long period of time, starved, tortured, and beaten.
Women's rights are unfair still to this day in North Korea. They are supposed to wear skirts and black shoes. This is enforced. As for sexual abuse, in private or in public, there is very little state protection or punishment.
When you get in trouble at prison camps, you are sent into a cell. Cell doors are less than three feet in height, so people have to enter them by crawling. One former prisoner said that he was told by a guard, “When you get to this prison you are not human, you are just like animals, and as soon as you get to this prison, you have to crawl just like animals.”
In the event of war, guards at the secret prison camps are under orders to exterminate the prisoners and destroy all evidence of the camps. North Korea says they don't have camps like this but they have controlled areas.
Forced labor is a way of life in the camps. Children start working at the age five. They are forced to work with very little sleep and very little food. Everyone in the prison camps suffer from starvation. Witnesses say that people eat grass roots, dirt, bark, mice and snakes. At this rate, many people die. The prisoners are forced to bury the other dead prisoners in mass graves.
LIves of the people
There are many things that seem unreasonable in North Korea such as how students are discouraged from drawing unless their drawings depict members of the Kim family or the killing of Japanese and American soldiers. This is why people learn to hate the US so much. The Kim family is doing the same thing Hitler did to get the children involved.
Another thing that is different from anywhere else in the world is that people in North Korea must display three framed pictures in their homes; one of Kim Il-Sung, one of Kim Jong-Il, and one that shows the two leaders talking with each other.
Everyone knows about the propaganda in North Korea. When citizens purchase a television (if they are allowed and have the money), they must set it up to the North Korea channel, which changes the TV set so that it only receives official channels. These channels are all mostly about Kim Jong-Un and all the good things he is doing for the people. This is where most propaganda comes from. People that think about leaving North Korea and try to sneak across the border are shot. The Border guards are ordered to “shoot to kill”.
Another thing that is different from anywhere else in the world is that people in North Korea must display three framed pictures in their homes; one of Kim Il-Sung, one of Kim Jong-Il, and one that shows the two leaders talking with each other.
Everyone knows about the propaganda in North Korea. When citizens purchase a television (if they are allowed and have the money), they must set it up to the North Korea channel, which changes the TV set so that it only receives official channels. These channels are all mostly about Kim Jong-Un and all the good things he is doing for the people. This is where most propaganda comes from. People that think about leaving North Korea and try to sneak across the border are shot. The Border guards are ordered to “shoot to kill”.