New barbed-wire fencing installed in Chagang Province

Barbed wire fencing installed in border region of North Korea. Image: Daily NK file photo

The North Korean authorities are strengthening existing barbed-wire fences and installing new ones along the Sino-DPRK border in Chagang Province to prevent smuggling and defections across the border.

“Kim Jong Un’s visit to China following the inter-Korean summit has led many people to hope that the 38th Parallel and barbed-wire fences along the Sino-DPRK border would soon disappear,” said a Chagang Province-based source on May 28. “They are now disappointed that the authorities are installing new metal fences along some areas of the border.”

“The authorities are strengthening existing fences and installing new ones on cliffs and steep areas near the rivers,” the source added.

The wide river waters near the border region of Chagang Province have generally deterred North Koreans from using the area as an escape route into China. The authorities appear to be installing barbed-wire fences in the area to incite fear in the population and prevent plans for illegal crossings.

“The authorities likely want to lower people’s expectations about the country liberalizing in the face of recent political changes,” said the source. “The state is trying to send the message to the population that ‘what has lasted for decades will not be changing so quickly.’”

Reportedly, the local police are also emphasizing that people act in a “revolutionary” manner in their daily lives. “This could be related to the strengthening of border security,” the source said. “In any case, the determination by the state to crack down and control the people is only growing.”

While the installation and strengthening of metal fences continues in the border region, North Koreans will find new ways to circumvent the barriers, a separate source in Chagang Province said.

“North Koreans are saying that it will be difficult for the government to prevent smuggling across the border – they couldn’t even do that during the Japanese Occupation Period,” he reported.

“They are saying that smuggling will continue whatever the circumstances may be, and that no one can stop someone who is intent on smuggling or defecting from the country.”

He added that North Koreans understand that the state has long conducted crackdowns in spurts, which at some point peter out, and that “nobody thinks this time will be any different.”