[imText1]Dandong, China — The People’s Security Agency (PSA) of Shinuiju publicly arrested 53 people for their anti-socialist activities at the city’s square on December 13th. Among the arrested was an owner of a trading company who has a contact in the South.
Several sources inside the North said, “The PSA rounded up thousands of people, and made a public arrest of 53 individuals for having engaged in activities such as prostitution and drug dealing and having connection with the South and transacted South Korean films.” Women accounted for the majority of the arrested (41 out of 53) and the rest 12 were men.
In the North, when the PSA makes a pubic arrest, it assumes the form of a mass struggle. First, the PSA has individuals suspected with illegal activities stand up in front of the mobilized crowd, and announces the names of offenses of the suspects. Then, the PSA makes a warrant for arrest, puts handcuffs on the suspects, and takes them to prison. The entire process is carried out in the presence of the crowd, which, of course, creates a fear among the people.
One source said, “Those suspected were already detained at the security office but pulled out of the office for the sake of a ‘mass struggle,’ only to hear the announcement of their offenses and be arrested again in the presence of the crowd. More than two thousand people including workers from factory complexes and merchants in the Jangmadang (market) were made to watch the whole scene.”
The sourse said, “People say that individuals charged with serious offenses are to be publicly executed after an investigation by the PSA. A person named Jeon, who used to head the Shinuiju Oriental Trading Company is said to be executed. But I am not sure.”
Based in Shinuiju, the company is affiliated with Pyongyang Escort Bureau, and conducts foreign-currency making activities of the city. In the North, the army and many governmental organizations run their own trading company to make foreign-currency and support themselves financially.
Mr. Jeon, the former head of the Shinuiju Oriental Trading Company is suspected of having a link with the South Korean intelligence and accused of taking money from South Koreans who asked him to help find their family members in the North. Mr. Jeon has been recognized for his ability to raise 4 to 5 million dollars of revenue for the Pyongyang Escort Bureau every year.
Another source said that Mr. Jeon’s business partner in China asked the PSA in Shinuiju to release Mr. Jeon in exchange for one million dollars
It appears that the North Korean regime has made such public arrest with the hope to crack down anti-socialist and other illegal activities widespread in the border area and to maintain public discipline among the locals. This year, the North tightened its inspection on the country’s trading companies and custom houses.
Good Friends, an aid organization dedicated to North Korea, reported in August about the public execution of Oh Moon Hyuk, the head of Chonsun-Leungra 88 Trading Company, which operates foreign-currency making activities in Yeonsa County of North Hamkyung Province. Mr. Oh was found to own a private villa at a cozy place in Yeonsa County and drive a Mercedes Benz. He used to lie that the General Kim Jong Il had kindly provided the house and car for him. Mr. Oh was publicly executed in the mid July.
