Changchun, China — As rumors of Kim Jong Il’s sickness and even death circulate, inspections have started again across the board.
A source from Yangkang Province reported on Thursday that, “An inspection unit from the Party in Pyongyang has come to the province and started inspecting people’s lives. However, there are no special cases yet because it has just started.”
Another source relayed information that, “An inspection unit from the Party came to Shinuiju. I hear they are inspecting ordinary organizations and the provincial Party bureaus, as well as ordinary residents’ lives.”
According to sources, since the inspections in Shinuiju by Jang Sung Taek in July, there have been no notable inspections. Therefore, some hoped that National Defense Commission’s inspections must have been completed.
Instead of inspections, government orders through the summer included Kim Jong Il’s special instructions to “produce manure,” to control the border during the Beijing Olympics and to punish harshly those who steal crops.
However, in September, although it was a busy farming season, no central instructions regarding politics have been sent from Pyongyang.
Against the backdrop of this societal mood, the latest round of inspections has begun. Once an inspection by the Party in Pyongyang starts, it is successively taken to every province in turn.
Unprecedentedly, in Yangkang, North Pyongan and North Hamkyung Provinces the Party inspections started simultaneously. As rumors circulate that Party inspections are sweeping the whole country, curiosity as to the background to the inspections has increased among the people.
Although ten days have passed since the inspection started, there has been no word of special events or situations.
During every inspection series, a number of residents are dragged into inspection unit bases, but now the situation is distinguished sharply from the past.
The source from North Pyongan Province explained that, “The target this time is not the corruption of individual cadres but the provincial Party system itself, so cadres of the Party are not so nervous. We will see what kind of results come out of it.”
He said regarding Kim Jong Il’s health that, “Everybody knows the General is sick, but nowadays he shows up on TV, so people believe that he is getting back on his feet.”
He added that, “I drank with agents of the People’s Safety Agency a few days ago. They worry about this societal trend that nobody feels concern for the General’s condition. When the Supreme Leader (Kim Il Sung) died, everybody wept loudly. Next time, I am not sure if there will be anyone to cry for him.”
