Ahead of Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia, the Ministry of State Security ordered personnel at its North Hamgyong Province branch to return their weapons to armories, Daily NK has learned.
The ministry issued the order at midnight on Sept. 10, instructing the regional branch to confiscate weapons and ammunition from all its agents, and banning agents from removing weapons or ammunition from armories until otherwise ordered, a Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province said last Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
North Korean media reported that Kim departed Pyongyang for Russia in the afternoon of Sept. 10. The ministry’s order came down in the early morning hours of the same day that Kim was set to depart.
According to the source, when Kim visited Russia in April 2019, only Ministry of State Security personnel at guard posts located within a five-kilometer radius of the railroad Kim’s train passed in North Hamgyong Province were ordered to hand in their weapons. This time, however, the ministry confiscated weapons and ammunition from all its agents in the province.
The ministry’s order included instructions to prevent accidents or incidents involving weapons or ammunition, and told law enforcement and judicial agencies to ensure they have control over their detention facilities to prevent escapes or other incidents.
Rumors fly about potential Kim visit to N. Hamgyong Province
Meanwhile, rumors are circulating in North Korea that Kim could conduct on-the-spot visits to important sites in North Hamgyong Province when he returns from his visit to Russia.
In fact, North Hamgyong Province’s Ministry of State Security branch recently ordered that stretches of the railroad in the province be divided into zones of responsibility, with security personnel assigned to each zone eating and sleeping onsite to prevent accidents or incidents through strict, around-the-clock management and control.
“Based on the order, North Hamgyong Province is currently operating a 24-hour surveillance and reporting system, with all local branches on a state of alert with revolutionary awareness, eating and sleeping in their zones or areas of responsibility, workplaces and designated places,” the source said.
North Hamgyong Province’s party committee has also ordered all local agencies, companies, and farms to make thorough preparations for a personal visit from the Supreme Leader.
“The Supreme Leader has recently made some annoyed comments [directed at corruption and misconduct among officials], and officials are tense as they prepare for a potential visit because they don’t know what would happen if he were to discover even the tiniest of flaws.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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