The Daily NK has confirmed reports that
armed guards from the State Security Department will be posted at the Korean
Workersβ Partyβs 70th Anniversary Foundation Day military parade at Kim Il Sung
Plaza in Pyongyang’s Central District. The guards will be stationed in the Plaza, in
nearby public buildings, and on the rooftops of tall apartment buildings in the
immediate area in order to block any assassination or terror attacks against
Kim Jong Un.
In a telephone conversation with the Daily
NK on October 7th, a resident of Pyongyang, who was staying in Sinuiju at the
time, said, βArmed guards began to crackdown and control all areas adjacent to
Kim Il Sung Plaza today. People hoping to enter the public buildings near the
square and even residents who live in the nearby apartment buildings were
required to show identification and check in with the SSD (State Security
Department).β
Daily NK crosschecked this information with
an additional source in the capital.
βThe SSD agents collected keys from the
inminban (peopleβs unit, or neighborhood watch) heads of the apartment
buildings so that they could get exclusive access to the rooftops. No one will
be allowed on the rooftops until the parade ends on the 10th. The apartment
rooftops have good sightlines to the plaza, which explains why the SSD is being
so strict.β
According to the informant, the SSDβs
contingency measures deal with the potential for a terrorist attack or
assassination attempt on Kim Jong Un or any of the other top officials that
will attend the ceremonies.
βThe Korean Central History Museum, Korean Central Art Museum, and the Pyongyang Department Store No. 1 also have
rooftops with good sightlines. So SSD agents there are undertaking
emergency preparations to make sure that not even an ant can squeeze past their
watchful guard,β he said.
βThere have also been travel restrictions
in place since October 1st. No visitors are allowed in personal homes without
exception. In addition, anyone caught speaking or behaving in a βsubversive
mannerβ will be arrested and charged with disturbing the peace, however trivial
that offense may be.β
βPlainclothes
SSD agents will be stationed in the subway stations. They will intercept and
investigate any and all suspicious persons. Even residents who were mobilized
to Pyongyang to work on construction and other projects to prepare for the Party Foundation Day celebrations will be subject to investigation if they enter the
downtown space.β
When asked about the residentsβ reaction to
the security tightening, one person noted that, βIn order to guarantee the
safety of the Marshal (Kim Jong Un), the whole city has to freeze in place.β
Another said, βItβs like the Arirang Mass Games: a big waste of money all
directed at the idolization of Kim Jong Un.β
Kim Il Sung Plaza was constructed in 1954
and is located in the center of the capital. It has an area of roughly
75,000 square meters and is directly connected with such central streets as
Seung-ni Street (Victory Street) and Daehak-seub Street (University Street).
The Plaza is mainly used for important
national and cultural events that celebrate the Kim Dynasty or the Korean
Workersβ Party.
