The Ministry of State Security recently praised officials who successfully acquired funds for the agency through an operation involving the spread of false information in China, Daily NK has learned.
On Tuesday, a reporting partner in North Korea told Daily NK that the ministry recently conducted an operation to raise funds and expose leakers of information that involved spreading false information to informants working in China.
The ministry handed down commendations and rewards to those who produced outstanding results during the operation.
“[The operation] involved releasing information as bait, tracking down the people who leaked the fake information, and then tracing the path that the leaked information took,” the reporting partner said, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons. “The awards and commendations were given out to the counter-espionage officials in the border areas and security and informants in China who rendered a great service to the agency by generating revenue through sales of the fake documents during the operation.”
Depending on the degree of the accomplishment, the Ministry of State Security awarded first-class special promotions, Orders of the National Flag (2nd class, 3rd class), or posthumous medals for military service, along with gifts of rice and cooking oil.
Additionally, the Ministry of State Security highly praised the operation, saying it was carried out in precise compliance with the ministry’s counter-espionage guidelines related to confusing state enemies through the use of fake materials and misinformation.
“The ministry ordered ideological investigations of the agents and informants based on their achievements in China and to replace agents who failed to achieve results,” the reporting partner said. “Some officials will likely be recalled.”
In short, the Ministry of State Security ordered preparations to be made to prevent agents and informants in China who failed to achieve results from disobeying recall orders or disappearing.
“Security agents and intelligence officials based in China who have been engaged in surveilling defectors or disinformation activities have relationships with brokers and Chinese traders. The ministry has sent down orders to closely monitor anyone who makes frequent contact with brokers or Chinese traders and to immediately report them as a spy if it becomes clear they have crossed over to the enemy’s side.”
Moreover, the ministry ordered that potential escape routes be identified in advance and reported up the line given that people trying to escape could come under arrest by the Chinese police, the reporting partner said.
“Security agents and informants working undercover in China have participated in or are well aware of government-led sting operations, arrests, abductions, and detentions. I understand that the ministry has ordered that it is alright for these people to be shot on sight if they try to make a run for it.”
Translated by Rose Adams. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of reporting partners who live inside North Korea and China. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.
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