Despite persistent crackdowns, the number of North Koreans defecting across the Chinese border continues. In response to this situation, Kim Jong Eun has now apparently sent a large detachment of troops from the Escort Bureau, which is ordinarily responsible for the safety of the Kim family, to the area.
A source from Musan in North Hamgyung Province told The Daily NK yesterday, “Escort Bureau officers have been patrolling the border since the end of last month, after the upper received a report about four families defecting from Gyeongwon County on the 23rd, the day before the local People’s Assembly election.”
The source said that the border guards themselves are looking unhappy following Kim Jong Eun’s decree to “Shoot without exception anyone suspected of running across the border, and punish without exception any soldiers who aids or abets the runaways.”
The Escort Bureau officers are stationed mainly at locations close to the Tumen River including Namyang, Saebyeol, Onseong, Hoeryeong and Musan, sources say. Since last October when Kim Jong Eun was publicly unveiled, the successor has led crackdowns and inspections on drugs and other so-called ‘anti-socialist’ modes of behaviour, as well as ordering tighter controls over border guards and soldiers.
In the first half of this year, inspections aimed at uncovering defectors in border areas have been carried out on Kim Jong Eun’s orders, and these have more recently led into extensive inspections of border guard units as well.
However, it is new for officers from the Escort Bureau, whose primary responsibility is the protection of the Kim family, to be stationed at the border. The strategy is being interpreted as a move to strengthen security in border towns using troops seen as the most loyal to the system, given that ‘anti-socialist’ inspections have so far failed to reduce the number of people defecting.
“Guard units are being subjected to ideological criticism at their posts, and they face restrictions on everything from their work to simply going outside,” the source added, continuing, “A platoon commander and some battalion commanders were arrested in Saebyeol for aiding defections. It feels like a few people from here may get caught for similar things.”
Another source from a different area of the border region said of the atmosphere, “People are unhappy about these crackdowns because the officers from the Escort Bureau are even catching people who are just going down to the river to draw water. Some people also criticize the officers, because they are so devoted to their orders when they first get here, but after a few months there isn’t a single one that doesn’t know what a bribe is.”
“One border guard unit officer said ‘I don’t know how long it’s going to be like this but I’ve heard that all of our posts are going to be re-staffed with other soldiers’, and other people have expressed concern that smuggling contraband has been difficult for a while as a result of this,” the source added, pointing out, “Contraband has a large impact on this area so if people aren’t able to smuggle items in, the price of rice and general necessities is going to go up.”
“Dissatisfaction is increasing over the strengthening of border patrols because it’s directly impacting upon people’s ability to make ends meet.”
