Daily NK has learned that the North Korean authorities are limiting movements of people and goods during the current state of heightened military mobilization, while also cracking down on illegal “alley traders,” unlicensed traders operating outside officially sanctioned marketplaces.

In addition, there are more and more cases of mobilized troops taking food and firewood from local homes, causing public annoyance at the overall state of affairs.

A source from Yangkang Province told Daily NK on the 5th, “Troops that have been mobilized under the current military status are living outdoors in defensive locations or in underground tunnels. Reserves and Worker and Peasant Red Guards have also been mobilized, and since those guys have not received rations from the authorities at all, they are taking them from local civilian areas.”

“The authorities are not allowing people to travel, either, and since they are not allowing alley markets to thrive, a growing number of people are getting more concerned about food and fuel,” the source added, continuing, “People do wonder whether they will actually be allowed to live long enough to die in an enemy attack.”

When soldiers are around, local people do their best to hide existing food stocks and firewood, and lock away what animals they have, he added.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Party and military cadres are not in a position to address the issue, even those who would otherwise wish to. More often than not, however, they just adopt the approach that “the people must endure these difficult times, especially now when our country is in a state of military mobilization.”