{"id":4486,"date":"2020-02-17T16:47:18","date_gmt":"2020-02-17T07:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4486"},"modified":"2020-03-05T14:13:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T05:13:01","slug":"smuggling-military-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/02\/society-economy\/smuggling-military-law\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e \u201c3 Smugglers Shot for Treason\u201d: Authorities Instill Fear Among Public to Prevent Infection by Would-be Border Crossers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A market in Hyesan City, where rumors of the execution of 3 smugglers are spreading. Photographed in 2012 by ASIAPRESS<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 Blocked border results in goods shortages but government warns that smugglers will be charged with treason<\/h2>\n

\u201c7 people were arrested for smuggling along the Chinese border. 3 of them- the ones who had gone across to China and back- were shot to death.\u201d<\/p>\n

On February 11, a reporting partner living near key smuggling areas along the Yalu River in Ryanggang Province, gave the first of such reports.<\/p>\n

News of the executions spread quickly within Ryanggang Province. However, with the specific date and location of the executions still unknown, it is possible that such rumors were falsely generated and leaked by the authorities to instill fear among residents. As such, ASIAPRESS worked to gather more information.<\/p>\n

A few days following the first report, another reporting partner in the province spoke with ASIAPRESS, passing on words he had heard from a police officer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe day of the incident was February 4, and it took place in Hwajeon Village, in Ryanggang Province\u2019s Bocheon County. Of the 7 smugglers arrested, the 3 who had been making border crossings were shot behind closed doors as punishment for their \u2018rebellious act.\u2019 Their bodies were cremated immediately after execution to avoid any risk of coronavirus infection.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Kim Jong-un regime has blocked off all border crossings with China since late January (or February 1, according to other reports) in order to block the spread of COVID-19 from China. With imports cut off, however, Chinese goods have all but disappeared from local markets, causing the prices of remaining stock to soar. As such, more people are considering smuggling as a way of making money.<\/p>\n

According to the reporting partner in contact with the policeman, citizens were given the following warning against smuggling on February 10 at inminban (local political unit) meetings.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the whole country is strengthening its defenses and initiating quarantines to block the coronavirus, it is tantamount to treason to make money through smuggling. Such acts will be dealt with according to military law.\u201d
\nNext page :Rumors of Quarantined Official Shot During Failed Escape...<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A map of North Korea (Produced by ASIAPRESS) Bocheon County is located north of Hyesan City.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 Rumors of Quarantined Official Shot During Failed Escape<\/h2>\n

Though unrelated to smuggling, there are widespread rumors of executions in other cities.<\/p>\n

A trade official who was placed in quarantine in Rason, North Hamkyung Province, after displaying cold-like symptoms following contact with a Chinese trader, was supposedly shot dead during his attempted escape from an isolation ward.<\/p>\n

A reporting partner from Hoeryong City heard this news on February 7 from foreign currency exchange dealers visiting from nearby Rason City. Since then, related rumors have spread throughout N. Korea- with even South Korean media reporting on possible outbreaks.<\/p>\n

As of February 16, the authenticity of separate reports on the various executions rumored to have taken place along the border is unknown. Reporting partners in Pyongyang, North Pyongan Province, Ryanggang Province, and North Hamkyung Province are all investigating the situations of local hospitals but, as yet, there have been no signs of further infection. Despite this, rumors of an outbreak continue to spread. (Kang Ji-won)<\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS contacts reporting partners in North Korea through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.<\/p>\n

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\uff1cRelated Article\uff1e<\/div>\n