North Korean security officers are brazenly demanding money from people under the guise of raising “loyalty funds,” Daily NK has learned.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in North Pyongan Province informed Daily NK on Monday that “security officers in Sinuiju are targeting homes likely to have disposable income, openly demanding cash to meet their ‘loyalty fund’ quotas.”
The Ministry of State Security issued a nationwide order to security agencies in early July to raise these funds. Subsequently, security departments at all levels have been working to fulfill their assigned quotas.
In Sinuiju, the local security department has ordered each of its divisions to submit USD 700. Division heads have further divided this amount among their staff, assigning individual quotas and encouraging “voluntary” contributions beyond the set amounts.
The source explained that in North Korea, the size of one’s “loyalty fund” contribution is seen as a measure of allegiance to the party and state. Consequently, security officers are resorting to aggressive tactics to meet their quotas.
“Officers are targeting those involved in illegal businesses, smuggling, or working as remittance brokers,” the source said. “The harassment is so widespread that people are suffering greatly.”
Some officers are even approaching individuals previously caught using illegal Chinese mobile phones, who had paid bribes to avoid punishment. These officers are now demanding additional payments, threatening to reopen these cases.
In one instance, a Sinuiju resident who had been caught using a Chinese mobile phone years ago was recently visited by the officer who had originally detained him. The officer demanded USD 100, threatening to send the individual to a detention center if he refused.
Security officers are also targeting families of North Korean defectors and intimidating remittance brokers to extort money.
“In North Korea, loyalty is the primary criteria in which people are evaluated. Security officers are emptying people’s pockets by any means necessary. Ultimately, these extortions by security officers have been created by the state,” the source said.
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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