According to the testimony, PPC No.13 was set up in 1964 after the PPC
at Pukchang22, and appears to have been split in 1975 to create PPC No. 12. The
information attributes the split of PPC at that time to the sudden increase in the
number of prisoners but fails to explain why the number of prisoners suddenly
increased. It is assumed that purges and deportations were carried out in a large
scale in the wake of Kim Jong-il taking over the political power in the mid 1970’s.
“PPC No. 13 originally encompassed the areas of Pungchon-ni,
Punggye-ri, Tongpo-ri (where the PPC headquarters was located) and
Chongpyong-ni of Chongsong County. When PPC No.13 was split,
Changpyong-ni and Chungsan-ni became PPC No. 12. It was only for the
purpose of administration. As a result, the greater part of Chongsong
County was encompassed by the PPC, and the small remaining area of
the county was consolidated into Onsong County. I think this was in 1975
or so. In the beginning, PPC No. 13 in Chongsong County came under the
heading of Army Unit No. 3579, the Korean People’s Guard. The new PPC
No. 12 was given the title of Army Unit No. 3578. It was known as a
Control Center to the outside but was a military unit internally.” (A08, former
SSA officer at PPC No. 12 and 13 1967~1992)
The PPC in North Korea are known as Kwalisoh (Control Center) to the
North Korean residents, but carry an internal official title, such as Military Unit No.
000 or People’s Guard. Often the PPC are referred to by numbers and locations,
such as PPC No. 14, Kaechon Control Center, and PPC No. 15, Yodok Control
Center. It is understood that the purpose of separate names is to cover up the
presence of PPC to the outside world and, at the same time, to maintain military
nomenclature for the PPC.
22
The witness states that the PPC in Pukchang was set up in 1961. However,
it is generally believed that Pukchang PPC was set up in 1958.
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