The Civil Defense Department of North Korea’s ruling party ordered a comprehensive inspection of armories across Jagang province as the rainy season approaches. The directive appears designed to prevent a repeat of last year’s weapons and ammunition losses during flooding that hit the province.
A source in Jagang province told Daily NK recently that the party’s Civil Defense Department “sent an order to the Civil Defense Department of the Jagang party committee on July 13 calling for a full-scale inspection of civil defense militia and Worker-Peasant Red Guards’ stores of weapons, ammunition and combat supplies in the province, as well as the interior and exterior condition of local armories, ahead of the rainy season.”
The order referenced rain damage and weapon losses that occurred at both city and county levels in July and August last year. It instructed authorities to thoroughly verify flood-reduction and drainage measures at local armories, along with emergency plans for relocating weapons.
Inspection protocol and scope
In response, the ruling party committee of Jagang province’s Civil Defense Department reportedly notified relevant agencies that it planned to conduct random inspections of armories belonging to affiliated civil defense units and branches of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards at local factories and enterprises.
The inspections will examine how automatic rifles and ammunition are stored in armories, the management of moisture-proof supplies, compliance with temperature and humidity guidelines, and the operation of anti-flooding equipment in preparation for the rainy season.
“Armories where ammunition was swept away in last year’s floods were made special targets of this year’s inspections,” the source said. “The Civil Defense Department of the provincial party committee sent armory regulation design specialists and guidance officers to the affected regions to take a close look at their rainy season preparations and emergency munitions relocation plans.”
The provincial party also asked the provincial people’s committee to provide generous administrative support and cooperation, including vehicles, fuel, food and lodging, so the Civil Defense Department could carry out its armory inspections smoothly.
The Central Committee’s Civil Defense Department’s inspection order targeted not only Jagang province, but also North Pyongan and Ryanggang provinces, which also suffered flood damage in late July last year.
The inspection of civil defense militia armories appears to reflect the authorities’ desire to address lax management of militia supplies. North Korea’s militia supply management system will likely undergo extensive reforms as a result.
“The authorities pointed to the weapons and ammunition lost last year when flood waters inundated the Civil Defense Department’s mountain armories, and consequently, anti-flooding measures and temporary drainage systems have been prepared at every armory,” the source said. “With even provincial party committee officials now launching armory inspections, local officials appear more nervous than ever.”
