Don’t discount N. Korean stories after defector’s recanting, advocates say

A soft-spoken and shy man, Shin shared his harrowing story about escaping from a total control zone called Camp 14, giving Western audiences an accessible reading on North Korea.

Over the weekend, Shin stated that parts of his stories are inaccurate, although he did not specify which aspects. He posted on Facebook that parts of his past “that I so badly wanted to cover up can no longer be hidden.”

Blaine Harden, author of “Escape From Camp 14,” wrote on his website that Shin had admitted several inaccuracies, including the length of time he spent in Camp 14.

For more: North Korean prison camp survivor admits inaccuracies

North Korea had sought to discredit Shin. Last fall, a pro-North Korea government website released videos with English subtitles featuring a man whom Shin recognized to be his father, disputing the story that his son was ever in a prison camp. Shin responded with a statement, accusing the government of “holding my father hostage.” It’s unclear if the video had any bearing on the timing of Shin’s admission.

Ahn, the former prison camp guard who has known Shin for seven years, said he believes the crux of Shin’s story is true and that torture in either camp is still the same.

“Shin became an icon for North Korean human rights. Whether he was in Camp 14 or Camp 18, he is definitely a person from a political prison camp. He was born there and tortured there.”

CNN’s Judy Kwon and KJ Kwon contributed to this report.

CNN