Amid the resumption of freight train service between Sinuiju to Dandong, North Korean authorities have handed down orders to the Ministry of State Security branches in regions bordering China telling them to “strengthen the campaign against unfounded rumors.”
The orders appear to be part of efforts to quiet “internal unrest” created by the restart of train service between the two countries.
“The government gave orders to the branches on Jan. 25 to intensify the campaign against false rumors in order to preempt a range of issues that could arise among locals amid the restart of train service to China,” a source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Feb. 3.
The government ordered the branches to “completely impede” any actions that could cause “confusion among the public,” such as unfounded rumors or exaggerations among trade officials and residents of the border area regarding North Korea’s “emergency transportation measures,” which are aimed at bringing goods into the country.
“Given that Kim Jong Il’s 80th birthday is approaching, the government said the security branches must treat any spread of unfounded rumor not as a simple issue, but a political one that is harmful to the hearts and minds of the people and that creates public unrest,” the source said.
The source disclosed that, in fact, recent data from party, police, and security agencies on people’s “ideological tendencies” already show there is “wavering” among the population.
North Koreans living in the border region are reportedly focused on whether goods being brought into North Pyongan Province from China will be available to them. There are rumors spreading, however, that the imported goods and food are not meant for locals and are instead “No. 9 goods” earmarked for the central leadership.
Furthermore, residents of the border area are asking why only the border between China and North Pyongan Province is open, but not the borders in other provinces. The source indicated that the government considers these complaints to be “seeds that sow doubt toward the Workers’ Party” as well as “anti-Republic acts.”
North Korea’s leadership further told the security ministry branches to “stabilize public sentiment” by putting a cap on “ideological comments” by the people toward the “emergency import of goods.” In fact, over a period of three days, security officials went to local district inminban (people’s units) to emphasize that unfounded rumors are a “danger to socialism” and that the people should believe in only the party’s policies, no matter what difficulties arise.
Furthermore, the security officials mentioned that in times like this, everyone should keep an eye out for “impure foreign elements” who go against the party, as well as to be wary of acts that cause public unrest.
“This year, given its many political events, the government plans to arrest anybody who spreads misleading gossip, whether consciously or unconsciously,” the source said. “It has also made clear that arrests of those who commit anti-party and anti-revolutionary acts will be done at the sole discretion of the Ministry of State Security. The government emphasized that security officials forcefully drive this point home.
“The government is saying that it will also take this opportunity to crackdown on actions that exacerbate economic disorder, including people with only a handful of foreign currency who manipulate the exchange rate,” she added.
Translated by Jason Mallet
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