Ministry of State Security (MSS) agents in the border region of North Hamgyong Province are instructing people to turn over their Chinese cell phones while telling them to continue making money, a contradiction that has caused confusion among people in the area.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Oct. 30 that “Ministry of State Security officials have been approaching Hoeryong residents they suspect of using Chinese cell phones and pushing them to turn themselves in, while at the same time urging them to go out and make money. These agents’ demands make no sense [since Chinese cell phones are a key tool for business], and many Hoeryong residents are laughing at the obvious contradiction.”
Chinese-made cell phones are an important tool for business people in border regions like Hoeryong. Unlike domestically produced cell phones, Chinese cell phones can make international calls and download foreign apps like WeChat, allowing traders to communicate with trade partners beyond the border.
“[The people being approached by MSS agents] use their Chinese-made cell phones to earn money and put food on the table. So when agents tell these people to hand over their phones and go make money, how exactly are they supposed to make that money without their most important tool? People can’t understand why the MSS agents, who were so desperate to improve their results, have started resorting to truly idiotic tactics.”
In October, Daily NK reported that the Hoeryong branch of the Ministry of State Security had internally announced plans to conduct targeted crackdowns against Chinese cell phone users from October through November. These orders were accompanied by a warning that agents who failed to produce results would be demoted to rural areas, leading agents to carry out the latest crackdowns with particular fervor.
As a result, MSS agents in Hoeryong have been scrambling to protect their coveted positions working in the border region, a “target-rich environment” for agents to make money. The pressure to perform well in this round of crackdowns now appears to have led many agents to say all kinds of absurd things in the hopes of cajoling suspected offenders to turn themselves in.
In one incident on Oct. 24, a security agent entered the home of a woman in her 40s surnamed Kim who was suspected of using a Chinese cell phone. The agent attempted to persuade her to turn herself in, saying: “Are you communicating well [with South Korea]? [I know] you need to make a living, so it’s fine to receive money. But in the current messy circumstances, if you don’t want to get caught and end up paying the price [for using a Chinese phone], the only way to keep living comfortably is turn your phone in. That way if this issue ever comes up again, I’ll have no problem vouching for you.”
On Oct. 17, a different security agent in Hoeryong visited a resident of a neighborhood watch unit under his jurisdiction. The agent told the individual that “I received a tip-off that you’re secretly keeping and using a Chinese cell phone. If you turn over your phone to me, I can resolve the whole matter quietly. If you take out your [Chinese] cell phone right now, I’ll even let you receive some money before you hand it over.”
Rumors of these incidents quickly spread, with many people criticizing security agents and pointing out that the suggestions to keep making money after turning in your phone made no sense. Others asked: “How stupid do they think we are, that we’d ever voluntarily turn over our phones?”
“Chinese cell phones are the lifelines of people who make their living through their ability to connect to the outside world. Nobody in their right mind would voluntarily give up their lifeline. People can’t help but scoff at the security agents going around spouting nonsense in order to try to hold on to their positions,” the source said.
Translated by Rose Adams. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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