Onsong concentration camp


The Onsong concentration camp was an internment camp in North Korea. It housed approximately 15,000 political prisoners and was located in Changpyong, Onsong County, North Hamgyong. It was officially known as Concentration Camp No. 12.
Although information about the camp is scarce, two defectors have alleged the forcible suppression of a large riot in May 1987 at the camp. According to the testimony of Ahn Myong-chol, a guard at a similar camp, and Mun Hyon-il, a nearby resident, the riot started when one political prisoner at the camp killed a guard in protest; he was then joined by 200 others at the scene who overcame another guard. At the height of the riot, some 5,000 prisoners were openly in revolt.
Reinforced from a second camp, guards proceeded to open fire on the rioters with machine guns, the defectors have stated. Reports on the number of dead vary; the defectors cite execution of all rioters, whilst a third defector previously involved with the North Korean security services describes being told of the execution of only a third.
The camp was closed in 1989, a decision thought to be because of its proximity to the border with China. The prisoners were then transferred to Hoeryong concentration camp.