Report on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances City: Chongjin District: Province: Country: Democratic People's Republic of Korea Means of travel: Prison name: Taken / Seen: DETENTION CENTRE Chongjin kwanliso No. 25 IV.3 Responsible forces Forces: Ministry of State Security V. Steps Taken 1 Date: Authority: DPRK VI. Information concerning the author of the present report Confidential Date of submission: 23-May-2023 VII. Summary Session: 131 INFORMATION FROM SOURCE Date: 23-May-2023 According to the information received: Ms. Lee Hyo-Jeong (이효정), a housewife, born on 10 June 1970 and residing in Hyeheung-dong, Hyesan City, Ryanggang Province, was allegedly abducted on mid-April 2016 at her residence by DPRK State agents. On the day of her disappearance, it is reported that three to four officials of the State Security Department (국가안전보위부, renamed in 2016 as Ministry of State Security 국가안전보위성) went to Ms. Lee’s residence in a van and took her to the Hyesan city-level offices of the State Security Department for an investigation where she remained in detention. There were witnesses to the incident. It is alleged that Ms. Lee had been accused for an alleged her connection with a victim of human trafficking, who was reportedly going to be smuggled by a group of individuals to China. During her first three months of detention, Ms. Lee’s relatives were able to visit her twice a week. However, following her three-day hospitalization in Hyesan City in August 2016, she was no longer heard of since. It is believed that Ms. Lee was transferred to a province-level State Security Department’s detention centre, despite her relative’s receiving information through informal channels that she would be released while the individuals planning the smuggling be detained in a political prison camp (kwanliso). In October 2016, Ms. Lee Hyo-Jeong was tried at the State Security Department. Her acquaintances and loved ones were reportedly not allowed at the scene of the trial. Shortly after her trial, Ms. Lee reportedly sent a letter to her relatives informing them that she had been sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment and that had been transferred to the Susong political prison camp No. 25 (also known as Chongjin kwanliso No. 25) on charges of committing a crime against the nation, including having knowledge of her acquaintance’s intention to be smuggled to China by human traffickers. In her letter, Ms. Lee reportedly expressed frustration and confusion for the outcome of the trial. Her acquaintances reportedly reached out to the Chongjin kwanliso No. 25 after her transfer, but no State Security agent would provide information on her fate and whereabouts. At the time of the present communication, the fate and whereabouts of Ms. Lee Hyo-Jeong remain unknown. 8