North Korea has reportedly improved its treatment of prisoners.

In an interview with Radio Free Asia, a researcher affiliated with the global non-governmental organization “Human Rights Watch” said that the treatment of labor camp prisoners has improved.

The leading human rights organization told the U.S. government-funded broadcaster that it had interviewed ten North Korean escapees who are hiding in a third country.

Although prisoners serve longer terms than before, they suffer less from physical and psychological abuse. In addition, the number of public executions appears to have dropped considerably.