North Korean authorities have further intensified restrictions on domestic travel in the country after South Korea elevated its risk level for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to “high” on Sunday, Daily NK has learned.
“The No. 2 departments in local Ministry of People’s Security [MPS] offices are placing further restrictions on the issuing of travel documents, and the authorities are cracking down on vans shuttling people around for money,” a Kangwon Province-based source told Daily NK today.
“No. 10 sentry posts [managed by the Ministry of State Security, or MSS] are cracking down on buses and other vehicles moving people. Even local police stations have setup temporary checkpoints to conduct crack downs on vehicles transporting people,” the source added.
PLIGHT OF THE STORM TROOPERS
The authorities are thoroughly preventing any vehicles or people from transiting from the border region to the interior of the country and the other way around, sources told Daily NK.
Sources said that anyone who has entered the country from abroad but doesn’t have a document certifying they have been tested for the coronavirus are restricted from travelling. Merchants without proper travel documentation are also reportedly being targeted by the authorities. Even work units involved in construction projects are being restricted from moving around, sources said.
“There are a lot of ‘storm troopers’ in Kangwon Province who hail from all over the country, which means there’s a lot of people moving around,” the Kangwon Province-based source said. “The authorities can’t completely shutdown the province from the outside because the shock troops need to move supplies into the area for construction projects, but they are setting up multiple check points to block as much traffic as they can.”
North Korea’s “storm troops” are non-permanent groups organized to meet special needs such as construction projects. They are typically organized similarly to the military and hold military titles, although they are not treated as military personnel.
“Storm troopers originally from the border region are unable to head back home because of the restrictions on travel,” the source added.
TOTAL LOCKDOWN
No. 2 departments in local MPS offices are restricting the issuance of travel documents to everyone unless they are on government orders, Daily NK sources further reported.
Even factory officials who need to travel to other places of the country to collect raw materials have been told to wait until “later” (after the COVID-19 crisis passes over), sources said.
The authorities are also carefully checking container trucks and the baggage compartments of buses for people hitching a ride in these hidden spaces, they added.
There are gaps, however, in the lock down on travel that the authorities are trying to implement.
“Some vehicles, including taxis, are cleverly selecting routes to avoid checkpoints,” the Kangwon Province-based source said.
“People are wearing masks just to avoid getting stopped by the authorities,” he added.
Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
