Military cadres and National Security Agency and People’s Safety Ministry agents are set to receive extra benefits in the “special distribution” commemorating the 65th founding day of the Chosun Workers’ Party, according to a source.
A decree was released yesterday announcing special presents for the military, NSA, PSM and munitions factories, according to the source from North Hamkyung Province.
The source said, “The authorities are going to give 200 grams of pork to each household, however, workers in special units are going to get two kilograms of pork and additional rice and corn.”
“In September there was a compulsory campaign ordering the wealthy to donate a pig to the authorities,” the source explained. “It was only to provide NSA cadres and their families with meat.”
According to his explanation, the authorities will also offer 20 days of grain for every member of a military cadre or NSA agent’s household, while PSM agents and munitions factory workers will get 15 days of grain for the individual worker, but not every member of the household.
Military cadres and NSA agents are to be given 5% rice and 95% corn; others will receive corn.
The distribution is going to start this afternoon, and is due to be completed tomorrow.
The authorities had not originally planned to offer anything extra to special groups, the source said, “but over the October 6th loyalty resolve gatherings, the authorities may have changed their plan.”
One defector who used to live in Pyongyang and was a member of the Party interpreted the news as being a message to the security forces.
“Offering presents to security forces cadres is a message encouraging them to prevent any anti-regime or anti-succession elements, rumors etc,” he said.
This method of garnering loyalty to the regime is a long-lasting custom in North Korea designed to make people harbor a sense of gratitude for the special attention of the General.
