Yanji, China — The Daily NK has talked with Kim, a North Korean woman in her forties, who travelled to Yanji in Northeastern China for the official purpose of meeting her relatives. Even though she has been helped financially by her relatives, it is not enough. Therefore, she is now working in a restaurant to gather more money.
Kim explained the current state of the lives and general opinions of the North Korean people. People, she says, do not have any interest in political issues like Yeonpyeong Island or even the succession; their only concern is survival.
– How is the jangmadang running this year?
It opens from 2 P.M. Trade is no better than before. In the evenings, food traders set up tents and sell alcohol too. Since the currency redenomination, traders without any capital have been very keen to get money. Therefore, money lenders are thriving. It’s inevitable. These people borrow money because they are trying to do business from street stalls.
– Don’t People’s Safety Ministry agents regulate alley market grasshopper traders?
Every day. Chasing and being chased is their work. However, how can they stop people from living? When they confiscate goods and treat us cruelly, we say, “Cadres are more dreadful than the General” That’s their world.
– How do they advertise the successor Kim Jong Eun?
They say that the strong and prosperous state will open in 2012 through reunification. And, it is said that the reunification of the Korean Peninsula will be done by Captain Jong Eun. People who hear that just smile quietly. Even though there is no red mark on the 2011 calendar on the day of Kim Jong Eun’s birth, January 8, they provided kindergarten kids with gifts like clothes, candies and cookies. Portraits and badges have not been issued yet, though.
– Regarding the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, are you told that the South attacked first?
People either don’t have any interest in the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, or just talk about it like it was someone else’s incident. Wasn’t it done by the South? People in the market say that while South Korea was carrying out military exercises, the South started firing at the Republic and the North fired back, and thereafter, the situation in the region even reached a Quasi-war Footing.
– Do people talk about war?
They don’t have any interest in whether a war breaks out or not.
– Are you still required to give a lot of money when they issue a permit?
There is nothing we don’t need to pay for. There is not even such a thing as “just” a train ticket; bribes are needed. In late November last year, in Chongjin in North Hamkyung Province, cadres were punished for demanding bribes. An old woman who was trying to visit her relatives in China submitted all the necessary documents, but municipal committee of the Party cadres wanted more bribes. The woman, who didn’t have that money, was not able to visit; she appealed to the authorities and all the cadres have been replaced.
– Are there many people crossing the river, which is frozen now?
Those who want to cross the border can do that with money, even though recent border security has been so tight. But even inspection groups cannot work fairly in front of money. I hear that generals are involved in inspections, but under the bridge next to the customs house there are smugglers. These days, Chinese people want to buy dogs, so they sell them. There are many young girls, and nine tenths are sold to China.
– There is a rumor that they shot defectors crossing the river.
I haven’t heard of that. Once we cross the river, they can’t shoot us. Even when we jump into the river, they can’t shoot. In the past there was a case that a guard shot one in the water, so related guards including his company commander had to be dismissed. But an old lady told me that a North Korean soldier shot towards China, so the guards in China got stricter. But we don’t know why he did it.
