[2] The main facility for male prisoners is situated in Hoesang-dong, about 6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of downtown Hamhung.
The sub-facility for female prisoners is across the railway station near Songwon-ri, a little village about 18 km (11 mi) northeast of the city center.
[1] They only get some steamed corn and a watery cabbage soup[5] or some bean porridge,[8] but no salt or protein.
In order to survive, the prisoners eat raw mice, snakes, frogs and insects they can find[1] or grass, tree leaves or bark.
[5] Some prisoners even eat undigested beans or corn kernels from cow dung, although they are punished when detected.
[11] Former prisoners reported that inmates look like skeletons barely covered with skin[8] or skinny sticks with big heads.
[12] In case prisoners do not meet their work quota[5] or violate rules (e. g. if they steal food) they are severely kicked or beaten with rifle butts or wooden sticks.