State security agents launched a probe of foreign currency earning centers in North Pyongan province on Nov. 4, sparking anxiety among workers there.
While these inspections are held on a quarterly basis, the latest inspections are more stringent than usual, involving individual interviews with all members of the foreign currency earning centers.
Before beginning their work, inspectors are explaining to managers that “this probe is designed to thwart impure operations by the South Korean puppet state and other hostile forces designed to disrupt North Korean foreign trade and sow chaos inside the country,” according to a source in North Pyongan province recently.
Inspectors are focusing on whether the foreign currency earning centers are receiving assistance from hostile forces such as South Korea or the U.S. and whether staff members are tainted by anti-socialist ideology.
The inspectors emphasized the need to block hostile foreign media, maintain vigilance against enemy schemes to undermine North Korea, and urged workers to protect themselves and socialism by staying politically and ideologically prepared while regularly reporting all activities to the organization.
Leaving no stone unturned
Inspectors begin by verifying that portraits of the Kim family are being properly cared for. Next, they check whether propaganda posters and banners are displayed in workspaces and review reports about political study sessions to verify the attendance of organization members.
Inspectors also scrutinize how foreign currency earning centers are meeting their government quotas to make sure they are not using unlawful methods.
“The government doesn’t really care how the centers earn foreign currency as long as they meet their financial targets. But state security departments do care about that, and center staff are tired of having to provide detailed explanations of how they earn the money,” the source said.
Nevertheless, staff diligently respond to inspectors’ demands because any issues that come up during the investigation could potentially lead to espionage charges.
As such, staff at the foreign currency earning centers are extremely anxious about individual interviews conducted during the probe.
“State security agents are calling in center staff one at a time for long interviews. The interviews appear to be aimed at uncovering corruption by center managers,” the source said.
In other words, inspectors hope the individual interviews will produce tips or leads about officials who are lining their pockets or breaking the law during the process of earning foreign currency.
Some North Koreans believe the provincial state security department has crossed the line in these inspections.
“If these centers are to meet government quotas, they have no choice but to engage in unapproved trade and to use Chinese-made mobile phones, both of which are illegal. Staff aren’t sure how they’re supposed to earn foreign currency if they’re taken to task for these activities,” the source said.
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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