Convict or prison labour (also called hard labour)

Diplomacy | 08.06.2009

US journalists sentenced to 12 years hard labor in North Korea

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Laura Ling and Euna Lee were arrested on March 17 while working on the China-North Korea border

Two US journalists have been sentenced to 12 years hard labor in North Korea. Negotiations for their release come amid increasing tensions over North Korea's nuclear program.

Convict or prison labour (also called hard labour) is form of unfree labour used in both past and present as an additional form of punishment beyond imprisonment alone. In some countries and historical periods, prison labour has been forced upon people who have been: victims of prejudice, convicted of political crimes, convicted of "victimless crimes", or people who committed theft or related offences.