Pyongyang authorities have launched a crackdown on illegal practices in the city’s growing taxi industry. As taxis have become a central part of the capital’s public transportation system, drivers have increasingly violated regulations in pursuit of profit.<\/p>\n
One major concern is the unauthorized transport of passengers beyond Pyongyang’s city limits, known as the No. 10 checkpoints. This practice often involves collusion between drivers, passengers, and checkpoint personnel through bribes.<\/p>\n
The police view these boundary violations as a serious security threat to the capital and have announced they will enforce stricter regulations throughout December, focusing on keeping taxis within city limits.<\/p>\n
“The city police stressed that the latest crackdown is a necessary measure to promote the normal development of the taxi industry and stop the pursuit of illegal profits,” a source in the city told Daily NK recently.<\/p>\n
Officials plan to conduct random inspections targeting various violations, including meter tampering, arbitrary fare charging, and exceeding passenger capacity limits. They emphasized that accurate meter-based charging is fundamental to transparent operations and building public trust.<\/p>\n
The enforcement campaign will run through December, with officials planning to establish normalized operations by the new year. Police have declared they would “eradicate practices” such as verbal fare agreements that bypass meters.<\/p>\n
Pyongyang’s taxis were originally meant to ensure convenient transportation for workers and residents during rush hours and in downtown areas. However, according to the source, drivers now “stop at nothing and break taxi operation regulations at will if money is to be made.”<\/p>\n
The crackdown reflects the government’s concern that the rapid growth of Pyongyang’s taxi industry is undermining state control and security protocols in the closely monitored capital city.<\/p>\n