Changchun, China — Arson is being blamed for a fire which destroyed five homes in the Kanggu-dong area of Hyesan, a source from Yangkang Province told The Daily NK on Thursday
“Five single-storey wooden houses went up in flames,” the source reported. “At that particular moment the power was out, so the cause of the fire can’t have been a short circuit.”
The source added that the number of casualties has not been released.
According to the source, the houses did not get caught in a fire arising elsewhere, and it appeared to have been started deliberately. Therefore, he said the investigating authorities are treating it as arson.
“Therefore,” the source added, “the National Security Agency (NSA) is investigating whether it was started by an individual with a grudge or was a display of anger against the Republic (North Korea) by anti-state factions.”
The NSA, in light of its suspicion that the arson attack may have its root in anti-Republic sentiment, has added extra officers in the neighborhood to prevent further crimes.
Arson is not particularly rare in North Korea, and has been used as a form of protest before. During the March of Tribulation, arson was frequent, with government departments related to food or farm cadres’ houses being the main targets.
In 1998, following a case at Suncheon Tire Plant, one arsonist was publicly executed.
Kanggu-dong is a relatively fortunate neighborhood, since it lies right on the border with China at a point where black market trade thrives.
