North Korea is building a large new prison in a likely sign of increasing crackdowns by authorities on acts considered crimes in the country, according to exclusive NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

NK Pro has identified the new walled prison south of the capital in Hwangju — the first such brand new facility to be identified in the country in decades. Planet Labs imagery shows construction started around March 2023 and that it is nearing completion.

Efforts to rebuild and expand three other prisons around the country in Sinuiju, Sariwon and Chonnae then began at the