Following the December 28th incident in which a North Korean soldier killed four residents in a Chinese border village, frosty relations with China have prompted North Korea to dismiss a number of the officers--some with very high ranks-- involved, according to sources within the country.

“This incident has seen the 27th Brigade commander, station in Chongjin City, the battalion commander in Musan County elated company commander, as well as the platoon leaders punished one after the other and discharged,” a source in North Hamkyung Province reported to Daily NK on January 23rd. “The dismissals even extended to the colonel general of the General Security Bureau [GSB].” 

A soldier with the 27th brigade in Chongjin City, North Hamkyung Province deserted his post and crossed the small town of Nanping located in Helong City, part of the wider Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, killing four Chinese citizens and injuring another.

The 27th Brigade falls under the GSB in Pyongyang, the organ tasked with guarding the east and west coasts of North Korea as well as the border regions. Originally under the State Security Department [SSD], the GSB later moved under the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces, but in 2008 was redesignated back to its original connection with the SSD. The colonel general of the GSB also serves as the first vice director of the SSD. 

Citing information released by Chinese police, the source said that the solider, who died from injuries sustained during his capture, was repatriated through Chilsung Customs several days later, fueling a chaotic response. “This incident has prompted every unit involved with defending the border are undergoing intensive investigations launched by the Central Party--everything is in a state of unrest.” 

He added that the situation of the deserter solider is hardly unique, but the timing plays an important role. “There have been plenty of instances until now of soldiers stationed in border areas all the soldiers stationed along the border areas crossing over into China and trespassing into people’s homes to steal food and other items,” he explained. “When relations with China are good they generally just let it go, but ties between China and North have been strained, so they had to go to extreme punitive measures like removing the colonel general from his position.” 

Quick to criticize the state after catching wind of the incident, many residents have pointed out the crux of the issue, noting, “If they would feed them properly they wouldn’t need to go trespass and plunder people’s homes, would they?” and, “It’s only natural that they would punish the colonel general of the GSB and other commanding officers, but that solider’s parents and other family members are in for even bigger problems.”