North Koreans living along the country’s border with China are outraged after learning of US expert analysis that their government spent tens of millions of dollars to launch missiles in early November.
A Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province said Monday that rumors are quickly going around the city of Hoeryong that North Korea spent USD 70 million to launch missiles on Nov. 2.
“People who have heard the news cannot hide their shock and anger,” he said.
Border residents who contact the outside world appear to be spreading the rumors.
FOOD SHORTAGES FUEL PEOPLE’S FRUSTRATION
With the number of food-poor families on the rise due to food shortages, many people are aghast on hearing the news.
In fact, the source said locals have unleashed a torrent of criticism after learning just how much money their leaders sunk into the Nov. 2 launch.
“They retort that it makes no sense to launch expensive missiles into the void while taking no measures to deal with food shortages,” he said.
In fact, the source quoted one Hoeryong resident as saying, “They tell us to ride it out a bit more, even if that means tightening our belts, saying it’s because of the Americans that we’re struggling.”
This Hoeryong resident went on, saying, “Ultimately, looking at [the authorities’] behavior, they are basically saying they don’t care if the common folk live or die. I’m furious that I have to live here.”
A Chongjin resident also laid into the authorities, complaining, “People are starving even though it’s autumn, so I don’t understand how they could fire all that money into the air. If the rumor is true, it shows that the propaganda about ‘politics for the people’ is an outright lie.”
Daily NK’s source, meanwhile, claimed that, “Although it’s true that military force guarantees the state’s security, people who are struggling to make ends meet can’t understand the justifications behind launching USD 70 million into the sky in one day.”
Quoting RAND Corporation Senior Researcher Bruce Bennett, Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently reported that North Korea spent nearly USD 70 million firing 25 missiles over a roughly 10 hour period on Nov. 2.
RFA explained that USD 70 million roughly equals North Korea’s monthly imports from China. That amount also equals annual rice imports from China prior to COVID-19, the outlet said.
Relatedly, Rodong Sinmun ran a report on Nov. 7 titled, “Report of General Staff of KPA on Its Military Operations Corresponding to US-South Korea Combined Air Drill,” in which it detailed its missile launches between Nov. 2 and 5.
“All the corresponding military operations have successfully achieved the planned purposes and the high performance of the KPA operations has been satisfactorily assessed,” the report quoted the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army as saying. “The KPA General Staff once again clarifies that it will continue to correspond with all the anti-DPRK war drills of the enemy with the sustained, resolute and overwhelming practical military measures.”
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