The North Korean authorities have advised traders, exchange students and other workers based in China to return to the North for Kim Jong Il’s birthday.
One such North Korean based in Shenyang revealed the news to Daily NK today, saying, “Orders have come saying all persons in China should return home if feasible for the General’s birthday.”
“Some people including exchange students have already returned to the fatherland,” the source added, “and those who really cannot go are preparing gifts or flower bouquets to send back.”
According to the source, the reason why the North Korean authorities are urging people to return this time is because far fewer than expected voluntarily returned to mourn Kim Jong Il’s death.
While recommending that people return home, the authorities have also apparently declared that there will be no punishment for those who failed to return in December, and that none of the items that are brought back from China will be confiscated.
The source said, however, that it is unclear where the order has come from. “When the General passed away there were instructions ‘not to get agitated and stay in position’,” he pointed out. “It could be that Pyongyang cadres are calling in foreign currency workers and students to fill their own pockets.”
The comment stems from the practice among North Koreans returning from China of giving gifts in the form of cash, computer, electronics etc to ‘gatekeepers’, i.e. the cadres who helped them secure their coveted overseas positions. This has the beneficial effect of helping them ensure safe passage back out of North Korea.
In the meantime, there is news coming from Shinuiju that the North Korean authorities are collecting money from people for Kim Jong Il’s birthday. A source from the city told Daily NK on the 14th, “My people’s unit head told people to pay per household to prepare for the late General’s birthday. Those with no money have to give items instead.”
The source continued, “Since it is possible for good things to happen later the more you give now, some people are giving big money, up to a million won.”
