North Korea map (ASIAPRESS)
◆Punishing border guards who took bribes — and arresting smugglers?
What form did the Chinese crackdown take? The Jilin Province reporting partner provided the following account:
"Officials from Jilin Province's public security bureau and the border defense force sent senior personnel to Changbai County starting in late November to conduct an intensive investigation. Border defense personnel and supervisors who had taken bribes and facilitated smuggling were disciplined. Companies involved in smuggling were also arrested, and some individuals are still under investigation.
Regarding vehicles entering the Changbai border area from elsewhere for resale purposes — whether new or used — authorities are now requiring advance registration and strict verification of purchase contracts. These vehicles have been arriving from major cities including Shenyang, Beijing, Qingdao, and Shanghai.
Without going through these procedures, there is a risk of being suspected of smuggling, so compared to before, smuggling has likely decreased by more than 90 percent. Chinese smugglers are voicing complaints about the situation.
The vehicle smuggling operation works as follows: North Korean trading companies stationed in Changbai County inspect and purchase the vehicles directly, then arrange for them to be sent into North Korea. If the smuggling is discovered, these companies face investigation as well, so for now they are waiting for the crackdown to end. Payment disputes also appear to be ongoing."
According to the reporting partner, despite the crackdown, vehicle smuggling continues without interruption — because the introduction of vehicles is simply too essential to North Korea's needs. Sustained international attention and monitoring remain necessary.
※ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
All photographs were taken from the Chinese side of the border, looking toward Hyesan, in September 2025. (ASIAPRESS)
