AsiaNorth KoreaNorth Hamgyong
Hwasŏng
North Hamgyong, North Korea · Asia
About Hwasŏng
Hwasŏng sits on the route: 10 minutes from Hau-ri.
Hwasŏng is in North Hamgyong, North Korea, with about 100,000 people. The nearest town is Hau-ri, about 6 km away.
Kwan-li-so (Penal-labor Colony) No. 16 Hwasong (Chosŏn'gŭl: 화성 제16호 관리소), often known outside North Korea as the Hwasong concentration camp (Hangul: 화성 정치범수용소; also spelled Hwasŏng or Hwaseong), is the largest political labor camp (kwalliso) in North Korea. Located in rural North Hamgyong Province, Hwasong is highlyRead more
secretive and isolated from the rest of the country. Prisoners, usually imprisoned for life, are subject to harsh forced labor and treatment. The estimated prisoner population size is 20,000.
The camp is located in the mountains of Myonggan County (formerly called Hwasong County), and its activities mostly consist of logging, agriculture, and some industrial production. However, the camp is also notable for its proximity to the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, leading to suspicions over its connections to North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. Camp expansions in recent decades and changes in camp features indicate enhanced security measures and the need to accommodate increased prisoner populations and economic activities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hwasŏng?
Hwasŏng is in North Hamgyong, North Korea, about 6 km from Hau-ri.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 99,557
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- North Korea
- Region
- North Hamgyong
- Timezone
- Asia/Pyongyang
- Coordinates
- 41.2556, 129.4928
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