{"id":4433,"date":"2020-01-14T13:49:22","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T04:49:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4433"},"modified":"2020-01-17T11:17:04","modified_gmt":"2020-01-17T02:17:04","slug":"power-zero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/01\/recommendations\/power-zero\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e Power Struggle: Fearing Collapse of Power Grid, Regime Orders Crackdown on Electricity Bribing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(Photo) Sinuiju, photographed during the day and night. The picture was taken from the same spot on the Chinese side of the border. Though it receives electricity as a priority, Sinuiju is rarely lit at night. Photographed in August 2015 by ISHIMARU Jiro<\/p><\/div>\n

Reports are coming in from all regions of North Korea that the power supply has been paralyzed since the beginning of winter. It seems that Kim Jong-un himself has issued orders to save power. Multiple reporting partners in the northern region of the country contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

North Korea is dependent on hydroelectricity production for about 70% of its power. From December each year, the power supply worsens as dams freeze. In recent years, however, this has become a very serious issue, with some areas receiving no electricity at all.<\/p>\n

According to a reporting partner in Hoeryong, North Hamkyung Province, only 30 minutes to 1 hour of electricity was provided per day since December 27. Despite Hoeryong City\u2019s favored status as the birthplace of Kim Jong-suk, the mother of Kim Jong-il, there are some days when the city receives no electricity at all.<\/p>\n

A reporting partner living in Hyesan, the main city of Ryanggang Province, said on December 20, \u201cAt present, we are receiving about 3-4 hours of electricity per day.\u201d
\nNext page :The power grid is going to collapse...<\/strong>
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\u25c6 Kim Jong-un- \u201cThe power grid is going to collapse...\u201d<\/h2>\n

The reporting partner living in Hoeryong City said that Kim Jong-un\u2019s \u201cwords of concern\u201d regarding the power shortage were delivered to organizations, businesses, and local people\u2019s units on December 20.<\/p>\n

Kim Jong-un\u2019s \u201cwords of concern\u201d expressed his fear that the nation\u2019s power grid could be overwhelmed by citizens using electricity. He therefore called for a nationwide campaign to conserve electricity. This campaign includes a crackdown on illegal uses of electricity.<\/p>\n

Power authorities in local governments have begun \u201ccross-checking\u201d how much electricity is being distributed to other regions. In addition, the crackdown targets people who use electricity outside of regulations or steal electricity without paying fees.<\/p>\n

Police and other security agencies are also cracking down on public officials who accept bribes for electricity. Those charged with such crimes in the first round of arrests carried out on December 25 have been charged fines or referred to additional ideological education sessions.<\/p>\n

Some residents can afford to buy Chinese-made solar panels and to power their lights. In addition, the current crackdown has apparently had no significant impact as there are many houses that steal electricity by secretly splitting wires and burying them in the ground. Though, according to the reporting partner, orders have been given to local people\u2019s units to report such electricity thieves. (Kang Ji-won)<\/p>\n

\u203bASIAPRESS contacts reporting partners in North Korea through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.<\/p>\n

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Map of the northern region of North Korea (ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

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