Two young adults in their 30s, who harbored resentment against North Korea’s power organs, stabbed a Social Safety officer (police) with a deadly weapon and fled with a gun and seven bullets, reported a North Korean insider on the afternoon of the 23rd.
The source said, “This event took place on the 19th, in Baektodong (Southern Shinuiju), North Pyongan. The stabbed Safety officer is in serious condition, but whether or not he died has not been reported.”
Baektodong is about 4km south from Shinuiju and the third detention cell of the People’ Safety Agency is located there.
Loss of weapons has occurred in North Korea from time to time, but an event where a weapon was stolen after stabbing a Social Safety officer is rare, so this event is being closely watched. North Korean citizens cannot possess small arms.
After the event took place on the 19th until the present (the 23rd), the North Pyongan Security Office, Shinuiju City Security Division, the neighborhood police officials, and officials under the auspices of the National Security Agency came together and have started the hunt for the suspects.
The source stated, “This is treated significantly given that this was an attempt at murdering an officer and a weapon was hijacked. Due to these factors, a nationwide investigation has been launched.”
”The nationwide investigation” which fell on all security offices, National Security Agency and organizations of influence regarding this anti-national crime incident, is the highest command issued by North Korean judiciary authorities.
According to the insider, the National Security Agency regards this incident as the deed of an anti-national organization and has entered mutual investigation with police authorities.
The insider added, “The national security officials in charge of the Dong (neighborhood) and the Security Officers are cooperating with the People’s Chairs to widely post montages, so that people can report the suspects.”
Additionally, the National Security Agency has sealed the Shinuiju 10th checkpoint (between Yongchun and Shinuiju) and strengthened the inspection of vehicles and passengers. The Security Division has toughened the inspection of travel verifications at roads and train stations, so that suspects cannot leave Shinuiju.
Specifically, the insider commented that an emergency has fallen on the National Security Division over the concern that the disguised suspects may escape to China.
The system of a corrupt food chain…the public’s symbolic event on power institutions
Whether or not this event was a systematically planned one regarding a specific organization is not known.
The insider revealed, “It is not known whether the event was specifically aimed at a security officer or was accidental is unknown.”
Mr. Kim, who is a defector from hometown Shinuiju, said, “Shinuiju people compared to people from other regions have especially high resentment” and “they have been historically exposed to foreign information and and have the inclination of bearing a strong grudge against corrupt influential institutions.”
Kim added, “The number of people who are interested in reform and have strong discontent towards the system is highest in Shinuiju, to such an extent that Kim Jung Il commented that ‘Shinuiju has already sided with the enemy.’”
Kim Jung Il warned that “Shinuiju has become hostile,” saying that Shinuiju citizens first entered the market while cooperating with Chinese emigrants and it most prefers democratic culture.”
Security officials and workers of the National Security Agency and North Korean power organs, as recipients of provisions, have to live based on their income rations, so they go on receiving bribes while inspecting citizens’ sales or smuggling.
Related to this, North Korean experts observed that due to the corrupt food chain system, this [event] can be eruption of the anger which has been building up between citizens and security officers for a long time.”
