By Ko Dong-hwan





Ryu Jin-a, above, and movie poster for "Comrade Kim Goes Flying" which starred Ri Ik-seung

/ Yonhap

The North Korean government locked some 40 entertainers in a reeducation camp for their links to Jang Song-thaek, the executed uncle of Kim Jong-un, leader of the hermit kingdom, Radio Free Asia said Wednesday.

Among the arrested is Ryu Jin-a, a Moranbong Band singer known for sharing a love-interest with Jang.

The band debuted in July 2012 under an order from Kim. Ryu became the first in the band to be bestowed an honorary entertainer title on July 21 of last year, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

Also arrested was Ri Ik-seung, a Chosun Art Film Studio actor known to have linked Jang's allies with female actresses.

Ri is a winner of Kim Jong-il International Award which was instituted in February 2012. The actor also played a minefield owner in "Comrade Kim Goes Flying," a 2012 romantic comedy film co-produced by North Korea, Britain and Belgium.

The entertainers were sent to Soosung Reeducation Camp, a prison that mostly attracts first-degree political criminals, in Cheongjin, North Hamgyeong Province, the source said.

The news was originally released by the source's North Korea correspondents who acquired related intelligences from voices within the state.

One correspondent told the source the news has been already spread to local residents in North Hamgyeong Province. Another who visited the state before the Lunar New Year holidays came back and said he confirmed the news with a province state official handling foreign money.

Other correspondents imparted to the source a rather more detailed intelligence, that the newly-convicted prisoners include those from Pyongyang Circus Troupe and Mansudae Art Troupe as well. They added they were taken to the camp on Jan. 17 by two armed trucks.