Many North Koreans who have heard news of the nation’s short-range ballistic missile launches on Sept. 25, 28 and 29 are giving the launches the cold shoulder, Daily NK has learned.
According to a Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province, word of the recent successive ballistic missile launches is quickly going around the city of Hoeryong. Some locals have reportedly been unable to hide their rage upon hearing the news, relayed to the city through residents along the China-North Korea border who communicate with people outside the country.
The source said locals complain that the authorities are “firing money into the air by launching missiles every day while we suffer trying to overcome food shortages.”
“They are raging at how [the authorities] simply tell people that self-reliance is the way forward, even as their lives fail to improve,” he said.
Some people who were exasperated by the news said that the authorities should use all the money that goes into missile launches to solve food shortages.
North Korea has not made public news of the recent missile launches, something the source said appears to be a measure reflecting concern that public sentiment could worsen if hungry locals learn of the launches.
However, in regions along the northern border, people quickly learned of the launches through residents who communicate with South Korea, China and elsewhere, leading to discontent and criticism.
The source claimed that many North Koreans are suffering from illnesses or food shortages, but the authorities are firing missiles instead of looking after the people.
“You’ve got to ask whether they really have no money to provide food to the people if they have money to fire missiles,” he said.
Since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un came to power, North Korea has continued its development of nuclear weapons, claiming a need to accelerate the strengthening of the nation’s defense to protect the lives and safety of the people.
However, the source said people are angry at the authorities for using this as an excuse to coerce and justify sacrifices on the part of the public.
“If firing missiles solved livelihood issues, people would applaud, but realistically, it doesn’t,” said the source. “The situation grows tense and restrictions and crackdowns on the people intensify, so who is going to applaud a missile launch?”
Meanwhile, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Sunchon area of South Pyongan Province in the evening of Sept. 29. The country also fired a short-range missile from Taechon, North Pyongan Province on Sept. 25, and two short-range missiles from Pyongyang’s Sunan area on Sept. 28.
As of Sept. 30, North Korea has launched missiles 21 times this year, including the latest three launches.
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