Yanggang Province authorities are forcing people to take part in autumnal clean up and sanitation activities, Daily NK has learned.
A source in the province told Daily NK on Monday that in the city of Hyesan, the authorities have issued orders through district offices to neighborhood watch units to assign people with sections of roads and villages for cleaning activities.
This comes as the authorities began emphasizing the start of fall cleaning efforts from mid-September.
According to the source, Hyesan previously ordered efforts to beautify roads and villages ahead of the Sept. 9 holiday marking the foundation of the country’s government. This was only partially carried out, however, so the authorities again ordered full-scale sanitation efforts on Sept. 11.
For its part, Yanggang Province authorities reminded officials in Hyesan and three nearby counties that they have many revolutionary historical sites related to the ruling Kim family, and called on them to take part in autumnal sanitation efforts with a “sense of loyalty.”
“The sites must be perfectly prepared to receive Comrade Kim Jong Un at any time,” the provincial authorities said.
Hyesan officials are working hardest to fix and repair roads, using cement to fix paved streets and sidewalks destroyed during the summer. Neighborhood watch units and the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea have already received sections to work on.
The source said people mobilized for the work are collaborating with specialists from road construction offices.
“The Hyesan branch of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea is determined to set an example of a ‘strong Socialist Women’s Union of Korea’ by carrying out the project by Oct. 10,” he said.
The provincial authorities have also ordered neighborhood watch units and lower-level units of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea to engage in “socialist competition,” saying that the region “must be able to accept a visit by the Supreme Leader [Kim Jong Un] at any time by beautifying road and villages in a civilized way befitting a proud province embracing Mount Paekdu, the sacred mountain of the revolution.”
As a way to entice people to work harder, Hyesan officials have hung competition charts on district offices so that people can check them everyday to see who is up and who is down.
However, the autumnal sanitation efforts are being conducted entirely as a “non-tax burden” on local people, which has led to discontent, especially among women.
“People say it’s hard because it’s the busiest time when people have to prepare for winter, including preparing to make kimchi and securing firewood and wind screens, but [the authorities] are handing down non-tax burdens, and using women like provincial shock brigades,” he said.
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