February 1, 2012 North Korea expected to hold prisoner amnesty

(The Telegraph) Pyongyang, North Korea -- On Jan 10, North Korea said it would issue special pardons for convicts, a rare move that appeared to be aimed at boosting the popularity of Kim Jong-un, the new leader, showing him firmly in control...

A UN envoy on human rights in North Korea said last year that the country is estimated to hold up to 200,000 people in political prison camps. The North has denied the existence of such gulags.