Torture and inhuman treatment are systematic elements of the North Korean justice system, regularly implemented following the sentencing of criminals throughout the country, a researcher said at a Seoul human rights forum on Monday.

Sang-sin Lee, a research fellow at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), said violations in prison camps, known as kyohwasos in Korean, are incited by secret police agencies despite the fact torture is formally banned under the North’s justice system.

“Violence against prisoners is most likely instigated by public prosecutors operating under the SSD,” Lee said. “Of course North Korea, like the South, has