‘Battle against crime’ ahead of Party Foundation Day

Pyongyang has called on all state agencies
to launch a ‘100-day battle against crime ‘ as it works to ‘establish social
order’ ahead of the 70th anniversary of the Workers’ Party Foundation Day in
October. This has led to a mass campaign from the Ministry of People’s Security
(MPS) and the State Security Department (SSD) in the border area to seal off
escapes and information leaks as well as the spread of ‘capitalist traits,’
Daily NK has learned.
 

“Recently, security agencies received a
mandate to combat crime in the run-up to the 70th anniversary by making sure
not a single incident or accident takes place,” a source from North Hamkyung
Province told Daily NK on Wednesday. “The order, which was approved by the
Central Party, emphasizes all law enforcement agencies to work around the clock
to ensure not even the smallest crimes and incidents break out until October
10th (Party Foundation Day).”

This mandate has sent not only the State
Security Department and People’s Security Ministry in Pyongyang, but also their
regional units into 24-hour emergency work mode with ramped up surveillance, especially on those with criminal records in respective regions, according to
the source.
 

Officials with security organs are stepping
up patrols and surveillance on markets, streets, and other heavy traffic areas,
said the source, noting, “Even in the middle of the night and in broad
daylight, provincial MPS academy cadets are being dispatched to stations and
intersections to conduct random searches.”
 

“Through this ‘battle’ the State Security
Department has plans to completely rid areas around the border of illegal
activities that had become troublesome,” she went on. “In relation to
this, it is shoring up security and safety units along the border to
expose and punish people for criminal activities (escaping the country, placing
overseas calls, smuggling) in a timely fashion.”
 

Investigations into people who illegally
cross borders, the family members of defectors, and people who place phone
calls to China and South Korea are intensifying — especially for those on a
special watch list. Authorities are threatening convicted felons or operating
24-hour frequency detectors to expose anyone making illicit calls, creating a
climate the source likened to that of being “under martial law.”
 

‘100-day battles’ have been around since
the times of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. In time for special celebrations,
such as the birthdays of the two late leaders, the state would often issue a
mandate to tighten control and surveillance on its people. This most recent
order served as an internal mandate limited to specific agencies, described as
being a ‘present of loyalty’ people can offer up to Kim Jong Un in time for the
70th Party foundation anniversary.

“Cadres from security agencies see this as
an opportunity to produce results and climb the ranks, so all of them are
stepping things up from the get go,” the source explained. “On the border, a huge
number of people who made illegal calls were dragged off to the SSD for
investigation, but they will most likely be let off in time to participate in
the ‘regional elections for People’s Committee representatives’ in July.”
 

Response on the ground is highly critical,
with many musing, “What kind of plan is something like martial law ahead of a major celebration?” she concluded.

*The content of this article was broadcast
to the North Korean people via Unification Media Group.