re: North Korea sentences American student 15 years hard labor

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I think a 15 year hard labor sentence is extreme for his crime but it's not evil.

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The prisoners are forced to perform hard and dangerous slave work with primitive means in mining and agriculture. The food rations are very small, so that the prisoners are constantly on the brink of starvation. In combination with the hard work this leads to huge numbers of prisoners dying. An estimated 40% of prisoners die from malnutrition.[19]

Moreover, many prisoners are crippled from work accidents, frostbite or torture. There is a rigid punishment in the camp. Prisoners that work too slowly or do not obey an order are beaten or tortured.[20] In cases of stealing food or attempting to escape, the prisoners are publicly executed.

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