North Korean authorities continue to conduct public executions of alleged criminals, Daily NK has confirmed recently.
Last year, North Korea focused on producing results to mark the 10th anniversary of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s ascent to power. This year, the country appears to be intensifying control over the population with a view to elevate loyalty to Kim and the Workers’ Party.
According to a Daily NK source in Kangwon Province on Monday, a man in his 50s — identified as Mr. A — was publicly executed before his neighbors and colleagues in the city of Wonsan.
A doctor, Mr. A responded to medicine shortages by prescribing patients with homemade penicillin and streptomycin produced with Chinese-made ingredients he had purchased. The man made a good deal of money selling these illegally manufactured drugs.
North Korea suffers from severe shortages of medicine and it is commonplace for individuals to sell homemade drugs manufactured with ingredients they purchase themselves. Others distribute smuggled, unlicensed Chinese-made drugs.
The North Korean government has strongly cracked down on the illegal manufacture or smuggling of drugs since the country launched its “maximum emergency epidemic prevention system” in May after publicly acknowledging a domestic COVID-10 outbreak for the first time.
At the time, Kim Jong Un even had some of his own household drugs sent to families in need. During an “emergency consultation meeting,” he condemned the hoarding and illegal distribution of medications. His comments led to intensified crackdowns on the illegal manufacture and distribution of drugs.
In Mr. A’s case, the doctor had been punished once before for selling illegal drugs. This time, however, he was executed for his alleged crimes.
Given the fact that the manufacture and distribution of drugs has been commonplace in North Korea, people who observed the execution expressed terror and fright. “No matter how things were in the past, you’ll now face the ultimate punishment if you don’t follow the Workers’ Party’s laws,” one said, according to the source.
SOLDIERS ALSO FACE PUBLIC EXECUTIONS FOR ALLEGED CRIMES
Public executions are commonplace even within North Korea’s military.
According to a source in North Hamgyong Province, a company commander in a brigade of the Supreme Guard Command based in Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong Province — a man in his 40s identified as Mr. B — was shot to death in front of his unit for allegedly mobilizing troops to build his personal home and for accepting bribes.
The Supreme Guard Command is tasked with special bodyguard duty for North Korea’s supreme leader and his immediate family. The brigade in question protects Kim Jong Un’s villa in Kyongsong County.
Mr. B commanded patrols along the road leading to the villa that is exclusively used by Kim and his entourage. He reportedly mobilized some of the men under his command to build his own home. The commander had also been demanding bribes — subordinates who bribed him received help in receiving business travel documents and were able to take leave when they wanted, among other illicit benefits.
A military cadre who participated in the ex-commander’s execution explained that the man had “seriously harmed the protection of the leadership,” and that “the company commander’s corruption had weakened military discipline.”
After the execution, the ex-commander’s company was completely disbanded, with new troops tasked with guarding the road to the villa, the source said.
By generating a climate of fear with its public executions, North Korea is sending a message to its people: follow the authorities’ orders, or else. North Korea’s recent series of public trials and public executions seem aimed at discipling people who have been expressing discontent over economic troubles.
“While the authorities pressed us to achieve results to mark the anniversary of the Supreme Leader’s 10th year in power last year, they’re now trying to quiet popular discontent with the regime by creating the fear that anyone can face execution if they don’t follow the Workers’ Party’s orders,” said the source.
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