Work shifts in summer started at 4 a.m. and ended at 8 p.m. Work shifts in other seasons started at 5:30 a.m., but were often extended past 8 p.m. when work quotas were not met, even when dark. After dinner, prisoners were required to attend ideological education and struggle sessions from 9 to 11 p.m., where inmates who did not meet the targets were severely criticized and beaten. If prisoners could not memorize the instructions given by Kim Il-sung, they were not allowed to sleep, or their food rations were reduced.