The discovery of a gas station attendant pilfering and reselling government fuel in Pyongyang has triggered a sweeping inspection of all petrol stations in the North Korean capital. The city’s anti-socialist behavior task force is leading the investigation, highlighting the regime’s ongoing struggles with corruption and black market activities.
“A forty-something male attendant at a gas distribution center in the Hyongjesan District of Pyongyang was arrested in late June by the anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior task force for taking gas that was supposed to be supplied to Pyongyang citizens and selling it on the market,” a source in Pyongyang told Daily NK recently, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to the source, Pyongyang has acquired a stockpile of gas that it plans to supply to citizens for domestic use until the end of the year. As of April, citizens had been supplied with more gas than in typical years. This appears to be related to significant imports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Russia and other sources.
But amid the increased gas supply, more merchants put up signs in the market advertising gas, attracting the attention of the unified command on anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior.
“Agents of the task force went around the marketplaces and arrested merchants who were advertising gas. They learned that a man in his forties who worked as an attendant at a gas distribution center in Hyongjesan District was supplying gas to the merchants,” the source said.
The man would steal containers of gas from the distribution center and hide them in his home before selling them at a high price to marketplace gas merchants or other private gas buyers.
Investigation uncovers widespread theft
But what was even more shocking was that the corruption went beyond the level of this single operator.
“The managers of the gas distribution center were appropriating some of the gas delivered for public distribution and then selling it. Then they would use some of the proceeds to buy corn as rations for the company’s workers and pocket the rest,” the source said.
“Since these illegal activities involved household gas provided as a favor to Pyongyang residents, those involved have all been handed over to the police for investigation.”
In response to the incident, the unified command on anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior announced that it would inspect all inner-city gas distribution centers by the end of July and has launched a vigorous investigation.
Since the number of market advertisements for gas sales has noticeably increased not only in the Hyongjesan District market where the incident occurred but also in markets in other districts, many people are likely to be caught in the inspectors’ dragnet, the source said.
“Gas distribution centers in Pyongyang are facing an inventory check and are terrified of the likely consequences.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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