When people talk about the sufferings of victims of North Korean concentration camps, it is often assumed that after it is all over the victims’ names will be remembered and the atrocities of guards be well-documented for posterity. I am afraid it may not be the case: Many, maybe even the majority of the victims will be forgotten because not every atrocity in history – in fact far and away the opposite – is documented and remembered.

Let me tell you a story which may serve as an illustration. Have you ever heard about Leopold II, King of the Belgians?