During the Beijing Olympics, North Korean authorities are intensively inspecting whether or not the residents of the border regions have remodeled their televisions and/or listen to radio from overseas.
An inside source from North Hamkyung Province said on the 13th in a telephone conversation with the Daily NK, that “Since early August, the anti-socialist inspection group has started working. The target of the inspections is just usage of television, radio, CDs or mobile phones, focusing on the border regions.
A source from Yangkang Province also confirmed that an inspection has taken effect, this time over television, radio, mobile phones and DVDs.
A noteworthy point of the inspection is that the authorities are carrying out television and radio inspections during the Beijing Olympics.
It seems that North Korean authorities are considering the inflow of foreign information around the border regions because there is high possibility of accessing Chinese broadcasts.
The source noted that “These inspections are to confirm whether or not television channels are fixed in every house and to search for hidden CDs. The atmosphere is comparatively not so serious because the inspection groups are paying attention only to televisions, CDs and radio.”
The source from Yangkang Province said that “On hearing that the inspection group was coming early this month, residents have already fixed their television channels. Since August 7th, the group has been rushing into houses identified by each People’s Unit.”
“I haven’t seen any one who was caught by them. There can’t be such morons who would watch South Korean movies or Chinese broadcasting after the news about the inspections spread,” said the source.
The source complained “These inspections won’t last so long. Residents are discontented with them because they were anticipating the big event; the Olympics.”
