called by the SSA to confirm if he’d made a certain remark. There was no attempt to corroborate whether he’d made the remark, and we were all pushed out at dawn. I was able to carry only a bowl and some rice.” (A11, former prisoner, from Ipsok-ni, PPC No. 15, 1976~1980) “My grandparents were successful with a plating business in Japan but came to North Korea in August of 1977, and settled down in Pyongyang. When the wave of arrests of Korean families from Japan began, we were arrested and detained in PPC No. 15. At that time, we were kicked out of our home at 4 o’clock in the morning by SSA officers who shouted at us, “Why are you so slow? Didn’t I tell you to be quick to pack up your things and get in the vehicles outside?” There were two trucks, engines running, in front of our house. My father, his youngest brother, my grandmother and my 8year old sister were all pushed into the truck. We were told by the SSA Section Chief, by the name of Jon Jae-kun, that my mother would join us later with the remaining furniture. We never heard anything from her since. We passed through downtown Pyongyang, Kangdong, Songchon and Yangdok. Then, we crossed over Wolwanglyong Pass and arrived at PPC No.15, Yodok.” (Kang Chulhwan, from Ipsok-ni, PPC No. 15) The SSA as illustrated by examples above, is in charge of conducting the preliminary investigation of the suspect to be sent to PPC. In general, the preliminary investigation is carried out within a period of six months. In case the preliminary investigation is not completed within six months, the preliminary investigation deadline is not respected and the investigation may continue over an extended period of time. The survey reveals that no information whatsoever is provided to the prisoners regarding the procedures of preliminary investigation, e.g. when it might be concluded. The survey also reveals that the process of preliminary investigation is reserved for the offender only, not for the families of offenders who are sent to the PPC directly without the process of preliminary investigation. It is found that sometimes wives are spared through a process of divorce before her husband is sent to PPC. Information has been insufficient to determine whether: (1) such divorce was forced or voluntary, (2) whether or not the rule applies to all wives and what the criteria are if it is not for everyone, (3) and what the process and procedures for such a divorce actually are. (2) Absence of Trial and the Process of Transfer The survey on the offender’s right to trial and the process of transfer of the suspect to PPC disclosed that none of the prisoners in various PPC were officially tried in a court of law. To obtain an understanding of the process and procedures of how a judicial decision is made and how the prison term is 66