2) Number of Prisoners and the Process of Closure and Consolidation It has been recognized that there are six PPCs and the number of prisoners in those PPCs is estimated to exceed 200,000. In detail, there are over 50,000 prisoners at PPC No. 14 in Kaechon, over 50,000 at PPC No. 15 in Yodok, over 20,000 at PPC No. 16 in Hwasong, over 50,000 at PPC No. 22 in Hweryong and over 5,000 at PPC 25 at Susong. Insufficient information on the latest developments regarding the relocation and reorganization of PPC No. 18 in Pukchang has made it difficult to assess the number of prisoners there. There appear to be changes in the number of prisoners by period of incarceration. However, insufficient information at present has made it difficult to assess number of prisoners by this variable. It must be noted that the present estimate of number of political prisoners may not agree with the actual number in view of the extremely restricted access to the maximum-security camps by both insiders and outsiders and the high probability of existence of smaller PPCs yet unknown to us. Examples of the information available for the assessment of number of prisoners at each PPC from the testimonies are as follows: “There are about 3,000 prisoners at Tongpo Mine, 80 prisoners at the food factory, 120 women and 20 men prisoners at the clothes factory, about 50 prisoners at the mechanics workshop,10 prisoners at the livestock farm, 10 prisoners at the butchers unit and 6 prisoners at the power transformer station. Additionally, there were some 300 prisoners in the construction unit. There were three other sections, 60 prisoners at each section. There were 5 units of workers at each village. There was an SSA officer, a chief worker and an inventory clerk at each work unit.” (A08, former SSA officer at PPC No. 12 and 13 1967~1992) 53