North Korea is promoting far and wide its purportedly successful test launch of the Hwasong-17 ICBM, but many North Koreans are reacting to the news with criticism.
According to a Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province, local residents have been less-than-enthusiastic about the launch. They say the authorities should first resolve the food shortages they currently face.
In fact, the source said locals complain that even though more and more families are running short of food by the day with the start of spring, the authorities have not found a solution to the food shortages, but instead fire tons of cash into the sky with missile launches.
North Koreans are reportedly expressing discontent about the continuous shows of force this year, complaining that they do not know what they will do with the authorities firing off missiles while rice prices climb due to the protracted COVID-19 pandemic and law enforcement crackdowns prevent them from making a daily living.
In fact, the source said locals spend each day worried as the number of food-poor households climb this month and the price of rice and other items rise in the markets. He asked, “With the people upstairs showing no concern for this and simply promoting their successful test launch, who would like it?”
Some locals reportedly say the government aims to “tie people up” using the missile as an excuse, having spent the last two years using COVID as an excuse to stop them from doing anything. They also say, “If you’re going to have a war, start it quickly. If not, let us make a living so we can stop worrying about food.”
The source said since the time of late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the authorities have kept stressing how bad the US is, saying North Korea has to develop missiles and bolster defense to boldly fight against US provocations, even if this means the people must tighten their belts.
Now, however, nobody is fooled by this, though the source says the authorities might believe they can still trick the people using excuses to “strengthen the nation’s defense.”
He said every time the authorities feel insecure, they try to quiet public discontent by generating tensions with missile launches. He added that the latest missile launch, too, is a scheme to promote unity by shifting responsibility for current difficulties on to the US.
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