North Korean authorities are threatening strict
punishment for cross-border smugglers and remittance facilitators amid the recent discovery of their leading role in leaking sensitive information to external actors.
A Daily NK source in Yangkang Province reported on
the 27th, “Smuggling is being considered a ‘treasonous act’ right now, because it was recently discovered that some smugglers and traders dealing in remittances from
[South Korea] had certain pamphlets hidden in their luggage. The authorities believe that state secrets
are being leaked by people contacting others in China, and the security forces are now passing down orders on this via people’s units and the Democratic Women’s Union.”
The situation arose after the security services in northerly Yangkang Province got wind of an information leak and made spot searches of a number of smugglers. They were discovered to be carrying sensitive military documents, including “political pamphlets.”
“People are already
uneasy because at least one family in the area has been sent into internal exile for having relatives who defected to the South. Even though this is not the
first investigation or crackdown, people are quite
worried as smuggling has suddenly been branded an ‘act of treason,’”
the source conveyed.
Furthermore, “The chairs of people’s units have been
quite forceful in their delivery of these orders from security
bureaus and neighborhood offices. They told us that ‘state secrets have been
leaked through smugglers,’ and warned that we ‘shouldn’t be so ungrateful as to commit crimes against our country.’”
Such messages are being disseminated through state institutions such as the Democratic Women’s
Unions, the source confirmed. “Households who rely on smuggling goods over
the border to make ends meet are deeply concerned, as they’ve been told that smugglers who don’t stop it ‘must be prepared to face a [State
Security Department] investigation team.’”
Reference has also been made to cross-border trade in minerals and medicinal
herbs, with official warnings that “Selling our country’s
resources is akin to fattening up the Chinese,” and, “If anyone is engaging in such behavior right now they ought to take this opportunity to stop it.”
Regions close to the Sino-North Korean border have been under increased surveillance
since the end of last year. This is thought to mark an attempt by the Central Party to stem the flow of information leaving the country.
