The news is drawing significant attention from local residents, as cases of release from political prison camps in North Korea are extremely rare.
According to sources from NK Times in North Hamgyong Province on the 21st, a woman in her 50s, identified as Kim, who had been imprisoned in a political prison camp in Chongjin, has been released and returned home.
Kim was arrested by the Chongjin Security Department while delivering money to the families of defectors between 2011 and 2014, traveling back and forth between Hyesan and Musan. After about six months of investigation, she was imprisoned in a political prison camp in early 2015 on espionage charges and has recently returned home.
However, Kim has remained silent about the reasons for her release, making it unclear how she was freed, but the news has caused a significant stir among residents.
A resident of Chongjin stated in a phone call, “I can’t say exactly why or how Kim was released, but this incident has given hope to residents with similar family situations”
They added, “The political prison camp is known as a place from which one cannot return alive, so the very fact that someone has actually come back is shocking to people”
Another resident remarked, “Many people have been sent to political prison camps after being accused of espionage while maintaining contact with the outside world over the past 10 years. However, with the news of this release, even those who had been inactive are saying, ‘This isn’t the time to sit back; we need to take action'”
They continued, “Many believed that once you enter a political prison camp, you can never come out, but this incident is gradually changing people’s perceptions. It will likely have a significant social impact as well”
North Korea has previously granted parole or early release to ordinary criminals based on exemplary behavior and work performance before their sentences expire. However, those imprisoned in political prison camps are reported to spend their entire lives there, with even their families subjected to collective punishment, making the possibility of release virtually nonexistent.
Thus, this case is interpreted as a sign that the North Korean authorities may be demonstrating some flexibility in their management of political prisoners.
Experts familiar with the internal situation in North Korea view this incident as indicative of a potential change in the country’s political prisoner management policy.
One North Korea specialist analyzed, “Political prison camps are a key control mechanism for maintaining the North Korean regime, and once someone enters a camp, it is almost impossible to return to society. This case can be seen as evidence that the North Korean authorities are attempting a changed approach in their management of political prisoners”
It remains unclear whether North Korea is changing its political prisoner management policy in response to international human rights criticism or if this is a temporary measure for internal political purposes. However, it will be interesting to see whether this case leads to changes in the North Korean authorities’ management of political prisoners in the future.
This article is translated by AI and may differ from the original Korean content.
