At Yodok PPC, unlike at Pukchang PPC, prisoners were released when their term had expired on the basis of review of their performance at the camp on expiration of detention term. It appears that those prisoners with long term indefinite detention terms are released on the basis of their family background, type of crimes and apology for the crime and performance record during the detention period in the camp. Release of prisoners and announcement of release are made on a fixed date of the calendar year. Released prisoners are sent to their hometowns or to assigned locations after signing an affidavit pledging non-disclosure of conditions and their experiences in the PPC. “We were interviewed by someone from the headquarters of the Control Center when we were released. Then, we signed a statement at the SSA sub-station. The statement was to the effect that I would not disclose anything I witnessed or heard in the camp, nor the location of the camp nor any of the people I had met in the camp. My travel pass and food ration coupon issued on release stated that I was a worker at Military Unit. No. so-and-so.” (A04, former prisoner from Sorimchon, PPC No. 15, 2002~2005) “I think there were approximately five or six families being released at the same time as mine. They were all from different places. I remember that there were two families, including my family, from Pyongyang and the others were from other areas. The release takes place once a year and all the prisoners whose detention term has expired are assembled at one location. No explanation was given as to why we were assembled. When we were there, they called our names, one by one, and we began to realize that we were undergoing the release process. They simply told us,” You are going out tomorrow.” The assembly for release was not frequent. The next day, a truck arrived for us and our bags. I left the place after signing a paper saying that I would never speak about the camp once I was outside.” (A05, former prisoner from Ipsok-ni, PPC No. 15, 1976~1980) “One day in 1997, a car arrived and the supervisor told me that I was going home because of my good behavior there. So, I said good-bye to him and took the truck which was only for me. (A10, former prisoner from Taesuk-ni No. 15, 1995~1998) “The Chief Political Officer of the SSA came up to us. When he approached, I guessed someone was going to be released. When he arrived, all the prisoners scheduled for release were assembled at an administrative office and the prisoners were asked to sign an affidavit promising that they would not speak to anyone outside about the Control Center. We inked our fingerprints on the 76