As North Korea enters its yearly March-April “Anti-Espionage” campaign, the authorities are reportedly stressing the need for a more precise enforcement and reporting system against anti-communist elements within the country.
According to a source in Ryanggang Province, there is a particular focus on espionage activities by “South Korean agents” and “foreigners,” as well as the possibility that locals may be recruited for anti-state activities in the border region near China. The local authorities have subsequently ramped up their propaganda efforts to encourage awareness among residents.
“Various propaganda art has gone up recently in accordance with the nationwide ‘Anti-Espionage Struggle,’” a source in Ryanggang Province told Daily NK on April 18. “Everyone is having to participate in propaganda activities lately.”
“At workplaces and people’s unit (inminban) meetings, the propaganda focuses on establishing a reporting system and raising awareness, while encouraging criminals to turn themselves in by offering softer penalties.”
But locals are regarding the campaign as merely an “annual formality,” and reactions have been rather lackluster, according to a source in North Hamgyong Province who said, “Some people are sleeping through the lectures and meetings, and one person said, ‘What are we supposed to do about it if State Security agents can’t even catch them?'”
He added that some locals find the propaganda “unrealistic,” reacting to the campaign by asking questions like, “How are there still so many spies in this country when we do this every year?” and, “It’s hard enough to even see a foreigner, so how are we supposed to report on their activities?”
“It’s mostly cadres who go abroad and meet foreigners, so telling ordinary people they must report on spy activities is seen as a little ridiculous. I even heard someone say, ‘The Marshal (Kim Jong Un) met an American (Dennis Rodman), so should we report him?’” he added.
Some are pointing to the campaign as indicative of the government’s own incompetence, even mocking the authorities for failing to catch the culprit behind an anti-government graffiti incident that occurred in Hyesan in April 2016.
“State Security carried out inspections and tested people’s handwriting, but nothing came of it in the end,” a separate source in Ryanggang Province said. “A lot of people are saying that the authorities should actually carry out a proper investigation instead of just going around grilling innocent people all day.”
“There is a joke that ‘you have to write complaint letters with your feet'” to avoid attention from the authorities, she added, pointing to one of the ways people are mocking the government’s investigation tactics.
According to Article 64 of North Korea’s Criminal Law, “The hoarding, collection, and distribution of state secrets by non-citizen persons for the purpose of spying is punishable by at least 5 years and at most 10 years in a correctional labor camp. In severe situations, the person should receive a sentence of at least 10 years in a correctional labor camp.”
