[imText1]55-year old Ko Yun Suk (pseudonym), a citizen of Pyongyang who is staying in Yanji, China visiting his relatives said to a DailyNK reporter that the state authorities recently carried out educational programs to alert the public about enemy maneuvers after it was announced by the Chosun Central News Agency that a foreign spy ring conducting espionage activities had been apprehended in early September.
Ko said, “These days, the state makes many announcements about espionage and corruption incidents to alert the public. I think those traitors deserve death.” In fact, the North Korean authorities have just publicly executed the manager of a foreign currency making complex in Yeonsa of North Hamkyung Province, and demoted many directors of custom house in the border areas.
Ko looked tense all during the interview with the reporter. She spent much time praising North Korea and its system instead of answering the reporter’s questions. In fact, such an attitude is typical for many North Koreans when they first encounter a South Korean. But Ko was particularly defensive.
“North Korea is far better off than before. However, corruption is a big social problem, and the state tries to stop it through education,” Ko said, “During the education, it is always mentioned that the state would severely punish illegal border crossers and those making contact with their relatives in South Korea.” Ko added that she felt uneasy about meeting a South Korean in China.
Ko said that the public distribution system has been running fine in Pyongyang. She said the price of rice had once gone up to 1,900 won/kg last month but now it is 1,700 won/kg. Since September, the rice price has increased by 300 won/kg.
When the reporter tried to confirm with the interviewee the report that there was no distribution in August and only half of the food ration was distributed in September in Pyongyang, she hastily said, “Food distribution works fine in Pyongyang most of the time, and we do not go hungry.” Ko said, “We can freely buy rice at markets, and we are much better off than we were during the March of Tribulation (referring to mass starvation period in 1990s).”
Ko said the border control has become tighter than ever before. She said, “Everyday, the border patrols crack down illegal border crossers and ferret out traitors.”
Ko also made an eloquent speech to the reporter, saying “Our benevolent General (referring to Kim Jong Il) promised a better life for his people. We have faith in him, and wait for the better day. No matter how much we suffer from hunger, we will defend our socialism.”
When asked further questions, Ko said, “I won’t say any more. The information that I am giving you is state secrets. As a citizen, I should not betray our Republic.” She added, “When we accomplish the unification of the two Koreas, then I can freely discuss these things.”
Intensly studying the reporter’s face, Ko refused to answer anymore questions and closed the interview.
