Yanji, China — The North Korean authorities have been increasing the use of the guilt-by-association system in order to prevent the defection of family units.

The source relayed in a phone conversation with the Daily NK on the 25th, “In the Hyesan of Yangkang Province, with the increase in the defection of family units, the state has been increasing the level of punishment and inspection regarding possible missing persons, their family members and relatives.

According to a source, Mr. Kim, who was living in Sunghoo-dong in Hyesan, was sentenced to “labor training” for failing to report the defection of his sibling to China. His spouse and children were banished to a rural area.

The source emphasized, “Since last February, 16 households in villages along the border, including Hyetan-, Sunghoo-, and Kangan-dong, have become missing as entire family units. The North Korean authorities, in order to stymie the increase in family defections, have been punishing family members of defectors as examples.

The authorities have also identified Chinese cellular phones as the means of connection between family members in North Korea and defectors to China and have undertaken concentrated inspections of cellular phones of households of missing persons.

The source stated that the National Security Agency, consisting of two-member groups, have been patrolling the river embankment around the Yalu River and the surrounding residential areas with portable cellular phone tracking devices. Dozens of the cellular phone tracking devices, which is known to be made in Germany, have been reported to be operating in the Hyesan City area alone.

The source said, “Recently, cellular phone inspections by the National Security Agency and the People’s Safety Agency have strengthened significantly. There are at least over 40 households who have been exiled after being exposed of owning Chinese cellular phones.”

The source relayed that Ms. Choi, who was exposed after using a cellular phone in Gangan-dong in early June, was investigated and 6,000 Yuan (approximately 900,000 South Korean won) in her home was revealed by the National Security Agency. She was suspected of harboring operation funds from the South Korean intelligence organization.

In Haesan City, those who were found with cellular phones, if caught, were sentenced to “six months of labor training corps” or was fined 700,000 North Korean won last year. However, starting this year, cellular phone owners have been sentenced to over two-years of reeducation camps or over 2,000,000 won in fines and their family members exiled to rural areas in other provinces.

The source explained the reality in North Korea, “The North Korean authorities believe that people who defect to China with their families have a worse influence on civilian mentality than those who defect alone. The People’s Safety Agency and the National Security Agency have urged the chairpersons of the People’s Units to ‘prevent the defection in families units’ by all means.”