In November, a mother in her 40s and her teenage son were found dead in their home in Hyesan, Yanggang Province, Daily NK has learned.
A source in the province told Daily NK last Wednesday that the pair were found dead at their home in Hyesan’s Yonbong 2-dong neighborhood on Dec. 22. The two had been facing economic distress before their deaths.
“The neglected bodies were discovered by the head of the neighborhood watch unitNeighborhood watch units (inminban, people's units) are Nort... More when she went to collect unpaid neighborhood watch dues,” he said.
THE POOREST OF THE POOR
According to the source, Hyesan residents consider Yonbong 2-dong the poorest neighborhood in the city.
The area is part of Hyesan in name only — in fact, it is no different from a rural village, and most locals there lead difficult, destitute lives.
“People living in Yonbong 2-dong could barely put meals together even before COVID-19,” said the source. “It’s so bad that you can hardly find a family in the neighborhood that’s eating even one proper meal a day.”
The mother, identified by her family name of Ri, had been raising her son alone after her husband died of disease six years ago, earning a living by selling food on the street.
However, after the government intensified crackdowns and restrictions on streetside following the outbreak of COVID-19, the pair’s lives grew even tougher as the mother could no longer properly earn money.
Last year, she could not even send her son to school due to financial difficulties.
POSSIBLE SUICIDE
Then, on Dec. 22, the head of Ri’s neighborhood watch unitNeighborhood watch units (inminban, people's units) are Nort... More found their bodies as she was going door-to-door to collect neighborhood watch unitNeighborhood watch units (inminban, people's units) are Nort... More dues, which had been postponed for a year.
The source said the head of the neighborhood watch unitNeighborhood watch units (inminban, people's units) are Nort... More thought something was wrong because there were no signs of life and neighbors said they had not seen the pair for a while.
She kicked in the door and “found the mother and son lying dead on top of their blanket, wearing their winter clothing,” he said.
Ri’s home had no water nor any rice, and with no kindling for heat, the house was freezing.
Many local people speculate that the mother and son died from cold and hunger, while others believe the pair committed suicide in the face of hardship.
However, the source said that suicidie is unlikely because even that form of ending one’s life requires money.
The source claimed that the government’s increasing restrictions on business activities is one of the causes of deaths among people running small businesses.
“That heartbreaking things happen like the death of teenage kids who should be running around playing is entirely the fault of the government,” he added.
Meanwhile, people in Hyesan are reportedly growing increasingly furious with the authorities for ramping up ideological education praising North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the country’s socialist system.
“Following the spread of rumors of the pair’s death throughout Hyesan, people are feeling more and more anxious,” said the source.
“People are saying that in exchange for not asking the government for rice handouts, they wish the government would just let them do business in peace,” he added.
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