Miners in North Koreaโs Yanggang Province
have been working around the clock to produce more gold as ordered by the state
in order to secure more funds for the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Daily NK has learned.
โAutumn harvest is supposed to be in full swing
at the moment, but only some workers are being mobilized for farm work, and
more than half of the workers are digging for gold,โ a source in Yanggang
Province told Daily NK on Thursday. โMiners are down in tunnels around the
clock to meet the gold quotas that were expanded in light of the upcoming
October 10th Party Foundation Day celebrations.โ
An additional source in Yanggang Province
corroborated this news.
Gold from Yanggang Provinceโs Daebong mine
boasts 98 percent purity — the best in the country — so authorities show
particularly more interest in its supply. The average quota is 12 kilograms,
but this month it has been raised to 15 kilograms, throwing the mine into a
frenzy.
The fresh orders have agitated many
workers, who are upset about losing time on their fall harvest and have
complained about the lack of understanding that cadre members have about
producing gold. โThey think producing 1 kilogram of gold is as easy as it
sounds,โ some have said, according to the source.
โParty cadres are so worried about losing
even one rock or handful of sand that contains gold particles, so they keep
prodding workers to do their jobs properly,โ she explained.
โDown in the tunnels, State Security
Department [SSD] agents have been watching over people like hawks to make sure
they donโt steal any rocks. This is the same when it comes to agents guarding
the front and back gates to the mine as well.โ
She elaborated that, each year, come fall,
some workers smuggle out rocks from the mine to buy more fuel, secure funds for
family affairs, or add to their livelihoods. However, facing orders from above,
mine cadre, safety and security agents are seeking to root out such practices
and fulfilling their quotas, instead of turning a blind eye in return for
bribes.
โIf it were like last year, each work group
at the mine would have had ten days on rotation to harvest, so they would be
able to work on their individuals plots as well with no interference. But this
year, almost all workers are stuck with gold mining, so they are upset that
theyโll be late on their harvest,โ the source said, adding that some workers
have complained that preparations for the one-day October 10th celebration has
led to work year-round.
