North Korean authorities have recently upped their war on “anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior” using the so-called “Unified Command 82.”
This suggests that the authorities have once again underscored their will to watch for and punish all sorts of behavior that runs counter to the regime. The North Korean government considers “anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior” to refer to importing and watching foreign films and TV, smuggling, and using Chinese-made mobile phones, among other infractions.
Daily NK recently obtained a Central Committee order issued early last month to regional branches of Unified Command 82 calling for a “war of extermination” to bring “anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior” to an end.
Ahead of this, Daily NK reported that the Third Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee ordered in June that the “unified command against anti-socialism and non-socialism” be renamed “Unified Command 82,” further instructing the unified command to intensify its “war of extermination” on violent crime, drugs, superstition, and “impure publications.”
This year’s focus on combatting “anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior,” coming after last year’s campaign, suggests the authorities intend to strictly move against preventing people exposed to information from overseas, including South Korean pop culture, from “parting ways” with the regime.
The order is apparently also an admission that the authorities have failed to improve the “ideological health” of the people, despite waging operations with such martial names as “war of extermination” and “mop up operations.”
In fact, the order calls on the unified command to root out and punish criminals “causing fear and insecurity among the people.” The authorities have essentially switched to an approach favoring threats over inducements.
It is also worth noting that the order calls for the formation of “unified strike teams” composed of police, security personnel, prosecutors, and court officials in regions where there is “rampant anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior.”
These teams could include armed personnel and legal officials when necessary.
This is noteworthy because it indicates that the authorities intend to dispatch more officials with jobs similar to those that make up Unified Command 82, which is also composed of officials from the police, security services, and prosecutor offices. They would presumably watch over matters to root out the corrupt practice of taking bribes to look the other way at illegal behavior.
A Daily NK source said that though Unified Command 82 has been waging a war on anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior since last year, the authorities believe there is still a lot of bad behavior to root out. Because of this, they have issued another tough, specific order this year, he added.
The order included reference to Kim Jong Un-style “love for the people,” along with such language as “violent criminals who violate the lives and safety of the people” and “reacting firmly to properly address the people’s complaints.”
These statements appear intended to promote the idea that officials should take the lead in resolving public discontent while shifting responsibility for various crimes that have arisen due to economic difficulties in the wake of COVID-19 onto a handful of criminals.
The source pointed out that the Unified Command 82’s priority target is “South Korean pop culture.” North Korean authorities believe fans of South Korean pop culture are “filthy with capitalism and committing violent crimes.”
The source said the authorities have tried to block South Korean pop culture for many years using various organizations, but “critics said these efforts have yielded few results.” He said the authorities intend to use Unified Command 82 to “decisively root out” anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior — including South Korean pop culture — as the COVID-19 lockdown continues.
Relatedly, the North Hamgyong Province branch of Unified Command 82 began full-scale efforts to crack down on anti-socialist and non-socialist behavior from the start of this month. After bolstering the number of its personnel, the organization has reportedly launched sweeping crackdowns in densely populated Chongjin and Hoeryong.
How long the unified command can continue intense crackdowns and punishments remains anyone’s guess, however. The source said not only have people found more ways to avoid crackdowns, but South Korean films and TV programs have also grown in popularity.
The source further noted that though many young people have been punished for watching South Korean films or TV programs, considerable numbers continue to try watching them anyway. He added that ban enforcers are placed in “difficult positions” because the children of cadres or wealthy families are getting caught up in the crackdowns, too.
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