Despite efforts by Pyongyang’s state-run
media to smear South Korea and condemn its “egregious human rights violations” using a recent scandal that erupted over the use of
hacking software by Seoul’s spy agency, more people in the North believe it
reflects the South is rooted in democratic principles, Daily NK has learned.
“Rodong Sinmun these days has been
reporting on the South’s hacking scandal involving the National Intelligence
Service [NIS]. People here have been saying that it’s amazing that media is
able to report on such issues and that it shows the South is a democratic society,”
a source from North Pyongan Province told Daily NK on Tuesday.
“Some people in particular have said pointing fingers at the NIS, which would be the equivalent to the North’s State Security Department [SSD], and calling on them to clarify the truth would be a ‘heavenly right.’”
She added, “In terms of illegal hacking,
people have said how would the South possibly be worse than the North since the
SSD wiretaps all communication devices including mobile phones and bugs homes,
preventing even married couples from speaking freely,” elaborating that people
have said the NIS, which actually works for national interest, is significantly
different from the SSD and its policy of treating anyone who has been overseas like a spy.
While most North Koreans remain largely
uninterested in Rodong Sinmun propaganda pieces slamming the South, more are
showing interest in South Korea as a country, following the rising popularity
of black market products that enter the country. With the recent NIS scandal,
more people have come to develop their own opinions about the South, according
to the source.
Another source in North Hwanghae Province
weighed in on this news, offering empirical evidence on just how extensive
monitoring by security officials in the North can get. “Back in the 1980s,
there was a propaganda leaflet incident in Sariwon. My husband was accused of
being affiliated and tortured before being cleared of charges and released.
Even so, we were under extensive surveillance for decades,” she said. “I didn’t
realize a bug had been planted in our house until the roof caved in during
monsoon season and it was left exposed.”
“In the South, if someone had found a wire
in their ceiling, they would be able to take it to security officials and at
least claim that it’s in violation of human rights, but under dictatorships
like in the North, people can’t say anything at all–they just have to suffer
and let it fester inside them,” she pointed out, sighing.
“Even now, there are scores of innocent
people who are dragged off to long-term reeducation camps by security officials
because of wiretaps on their home phones.”
This source in North Hwanghae Province reiterated her desire
for change in North Korea multiple times during the phone call, particularly
emphasizing granting people the basic freedom to voice their opinion and media
freedom.
She also noted potential for change within
the North’s fixation on the NIS case and messages there, saying, “The more the
North goes on about the hacking case, the more critical opportunities it will
provide for people to look into the current leadership.”
