intervals of a kilometer along the barbed wire. The watchtowers were always manned by guards equipped with a machine gun, their eyes always alert.” (Kang Chul-hwan, former prisoner from Ipsok-ni, Camp No. 15) “There is no barbed wire in No. 18, but nobody escaped. Nobody could escape. Where could he go when mountains are all around and checkpoints are posted on all the roads coming out from the mountains? Of course, one could try to follow along the top of the mountain range and find a way out of the mountains. However, no prisoners were bright enough to do so. Of course, they also feared the horrendous punishment if caught trying to escape. I have never witnessed an escape attempt. Every prisoner fears that he might be sent to a worse place due even to any “wrong remarks” he might make. So, I never saw any prisoner make an outspoken comment. There are many Control Centers worse than this one. All the prisoners feared that.” (A01, former prisoner from PPC NO. 18, 1972~1984) A witness from the PPC No. 18 testifies that, unlike any other PPC, no barbed wire could be seen in PPC No. 18. The testimony appears to be due to the fact that barbed wire is set up beyond the perimeter of, outside the main gate, and not normally seen from within the camp. “Tall barbed wire is set up very densely in Pongchang-ni, PPC No. 18. The security troops come from PPC No. 14 and there’s a lot of barbed wire, even located at the tops of mountains, and this extends to Sang-ni. Whether or not the barbed wire is electrified, I don’t know. At No. 18 camp, young male police guard the camp.” (A09, former prisoner, from PPC No. 18, 1975~2000) “There were few cases of escape attempts as the prisoners concerned were detained there without any knowledge of why they were arrested. But, they could not get past the barbed wire fences. Once, I watched the setting up of barbed wire fences and the work was so shocking and murderous. Electrified barbed wire was installed all around and deep ditches were dug directly beneath the barbed wire fence. Sharp spear-like poles were sunk very close together and pointed upright from the bottom of the trench. Hidden snares designed to catch wild boars are also set so that anyone attempting to escape will have his arm caught by one of these hidden snares. A wooden board is hidden and connected to a clever release device using thin ropes and attached to nearby trees close to the barbed wire fence. Heavy stones placed on the platform fall on prisoners attempting escape when the device is triggered. So, no one can escape from the Control Center.” (0 Myong-o from No. 18) There may be some differences in PPC security systems depending 82