North Korean intelligence agents in China are being forced to curb their activities in response to China’s recently revised anti-espionage law, Daily NK has learned.
Over the past month, North Korean intelligence agents in China have faced restrictions on their usual information-gathering activities, including limits on photographing buildings and facilities in China and reduced contact with Chinese citizens, overseas Chinese (hwagyo) and ethnic Koreans in China, a source in China told Daily NK last Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
North Korean intelligence agents typically monitor North Korean laborers working in Chinese restaurants and factories, but many are also affiliated with trading companies under the umbrella of the Ministry of State Security. As members of these trade companies, the agents frequently approach and make deals with Chinese business people, including hwagyo and ethnic Koreans in China, collecting their personal information, including pictures, to send back to North Korea.
As part of efforts to obtain photographs, North Korean agents have been known to openly ask their close business partners in China to “take a picture together.” If this method fails, agents would employ a wife or subordinate to secretly photograph clandestine meetings.
China’s revised anti-espionage law, however, essentially makes it illegal for foreign nationals to photograph Chinese citizens or facilities in China. North Korean security agents have traditionally taken photos of Chinese buildings and facilities to send back to North Korea, but this kind of intelligence gathering has become much more difficult in the last month due to the new law.
As a result, North Korean authorities have instructed agents in China to “refrain from holding private meetings with Chinese nationals, hwagyo or ethnic Koreans for the time being.” In short, agents have been ordered to keep a low profile and avoid any reckless actions, even if doing so impedes their information-gathering activities.
Another source in China told Daily NK that North Korea’s recent order included instructions to “refrain from personally approaching any Chinese national or making contact with any ethnic Koreans in China or hwagyo with connections to South Koreans.” The order also included instructions to “refrain from travelling to any regions outside of designated areas of activity,” and that agents “must implement thorough security precautions during reconnaissance of any Chinese military facilities or other important facilities.”
Even bilateral trade affected by revised law
After China implemented the revised anti-espionage law, the atmosphere in the China-North Korea border region has turned icy again, the source said.
“In fact, the Chinese are harshly cracking down on North Korean activities around the border. When North Korean vessels have approached China’s maritime boundaries, China has fired warning shots before shooting live ammunition in some cases.”
China also appears to have ramped up restrictions on trade with North Korea. For example, Chinese authorities are now implementing stricter customs inspections on exports to North Korea in places like Shandong Province, where maritime trade had been flourishing. Moreover, China has increased the list of items banned for export to North Korea.
“Ever since the implemention of the revised anti-espionage law, China has been intensifying restrictions on activities conducted with North Koreans,” the source said. “This appears to have put some strain on the bilateral relationship.”
Translated by Rose Adams. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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