A/HRC/WGAD/2013/34
8.
Kim Bok Shil, female, born 24 September 1947, worked as the manager of the
South Hamkyung Province Hongwon-gun commerce management office. Her son,
Ann Jung Chul, born 14 January 1972, worked as a first class sergeant of the border
garrison in Hyesan, North Hamkyung Province. Her daughter, Ann Soon Hee, born in
March 1981, was a student at the Hongwon Elementary School. Brother and sister were 22
and 13 years old, respectively, at the time of their arrest. The family usually resided
together at Hongwon 1-ban, South Hamkyung Province.
9.
Ann Gyung Shin, Kim Bok Shil’s husband and the father of her children, committed
suicide on 14 January 1994, whilst detained at a forced labour logging camp in Hongwon.
Prior to his detention, Ann Gyung Shin worked as a party official in the Food Policy
Department. He was charged with corruption and illegal accumulation of wealth, for
allegedly embezzling rice and making statements against the policies of the Party. As a
result of his suicide, which was considered an act of treason against the State, he was
labelled a “reactionary” and an investigation into his family was opened.
10.
On the morning of her husband’s death, an agent of the National Security Agency
abducted Kim Bok Shil from her home and interrogated her at a secret location. She was
released, but three months later, in April 1994, was arrested by the Agency at her home and
charged with illegally conducting trade outside the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
with the Chongryon (the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan which has close
links to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). The source conjectures an additional
reason for her arrest was guilt by association for the suicide of her husband. Following her
arrest, she was detained at the National Security Agency prison in South Hamkyung and
later in May 1994, transferred to the Hamheung National Security Agency in South
Hamkyung. The source cites an eyewitness account of the brutal beatings and torture she
had suffered in detention. In October 1994, she was transferred to political prison camp
No. 15 or 16.
11.
The source was informed by members of the border garrison that in June 1994, Ann
Soon Hee was arrested in her home by the Hongwon National Security Agency of South
Hamkyung. On the same date, Ann Jung Chul was arrested by the Agency while on duty at
the border garrison of Hyesan in North Hamkyung. Ann Jung Chul was reportedly
transferred to the Hamheung National Security Agency. The source believes brother and
sister are imprisoned in political prison camp No. 15 or 16. The source argues the family’s
guilt by association with suicide of Ann Gyung Shin violates international human rights
law.
12.
Kwon Young Guen, male, born on 26 May 1966, worked at the Korean War
Construction Company located in Musan, North Hamkyung. He usually resides at 70-ban,
Musan-eup, Musan-gun. On 6 July 1994, he fled to China with the goal of sending
remittances to his family. On 10 July 1994, he was arrested by the Yanji police near the
Northeast Hotel on Henan Street, Yanji, Jilin-Sheng. According to the source, Kwon Young
Guen was arrested and charged with having committed treason by defecting from the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Republic of Korea, from where his parents
originate.
13.
Immediately following his arrest, Kwon Young Guen was repatriated and detained
at the Chilsung Custom House. The source cites an eyewitness account that Kwon Young
Guen was tied to the rear part of a truck and dragged barefoot from the Custom House to
the centre of Musan, an approximate distance of 16 kilometres. According to the source,
Kwon Young Guen was to be an example of the punishment that would befall traitors to
Kim Il Sung. Kwon Young Guen was detained for three months in a National Security
Agency prison in Musan, during which time he was interrogated and forced to confess
through torture. In October 1994, the Agency transferred him to a political prison camp.
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