Local police are investigating a theft that occurred at a high school in Kimjongsuk County, Ryanggang Province, during the school’s summer vacation.
According to a source in Ryanggang Province, burglars stole expensive equipment and instruments in the school’s equipment and music rooms, located in a separate annex.
The head of the school, who was checking the school’s equipment in advance of the start of the school year on September 1, discovered evidence that outsiders had entered the premises. After ordering the entire school’s staff to check the premises, it was confirmed that a massive theft had taken place.
The school reported the theft to the local police and students have begun recording what was stolen.
The local police confirmed that the locks on the school’s practice rooms were damaged and began their investigation.
The police investigated the school officials who were in charge of school security from August 24-26, which was the period in which the theft was presumed to have taken place. The police also conducted interviews with residents living near the school.
“Even during their summer vacation, students in music groups had prepared for their participation in a planned music performance as part of the celebrations on September 9,” a separate source in Ryanggang Province told Daily NK on August 31.
“When the practice for the performance ended, they put the instruments, including an accordion, back in the music room before heading home. The theft of the instruments has caused a lot of distress.”
If the instruments are not recovered, the students will have few options available. Defectors say that the financial situation for North Korean schools is so poor that they cannot easily recover from incidents like these.
Parents of the student musicians have gone to the school and police station to plead for the rapid apprehension of the culprit(s). However, while the police are investigating the possibility of the crime having been committed by someone in the school, there is no clear evidence for this and the investigation has stalled.
The start of the school year was planned for September 1, but the school has said that some classes will not be starting on time, said the source.
Although there are calls for the installation of a CCTV system at the school, it would require its own power generator for the system to operate.
This year, the North Korean authorities have ordered the installation of CCTV cameras in government buildings and schools where the potential for theft is high. However, the schools have responded that it is difficult for them to install such systems without the funding to pay for them.
“The schools have great difficulties in generating their own funds [for such a system] so the students and parents are the ones who have to pay,” an additional source in Ryanggang Province explained.
“The schools, however, are hesitant to ask parents for more money, so they have delayed the installation of the CCTV system. Ultimately, it may have prevented the theft from happening in the first place.”
