According to Yonhap:
An estimated 150,000-200,000 North Koreans are locked up in their communist country as political prisoners, a senior South Korean official said Friday.
Unification Minister Hyun In-taek did not cite sources, but he said during a parliamentary audit in Seoul that the number is “what we understand currently.”
North Korea is operating six political prison camps, Gu Sang-chan, a lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party, said during the audit as he asked Hyun about the number of inmates.
People incarcerated in such camps are believed to be political dissidents or those who have been captured and repatriated after fleeing the impoverished communist state.
North Korea denies holding any political prisoners, stressing that there are no human rights abuses. Activists claim that political prisoners are forced to work grueling hours and receive only enough food to keep them alive. No medical care is available.
North Korea has a population of 24 million.
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Up to 200,000 political prisoners estimated in N. Korea: official
Yonhap
Sam Kim
10/22/2010
