Security along the

Sino-North Korean border has increased in the years since Kim Jong Eun took

power, but that has been trumped in the period since the purge and execution of

Jang Song Taek.

It has become more

difficult to defect or smuggle goods back and forth across the rivers that make

up the barrier with China. Measures have been adopted stipulating that the act

of defection constitutes an “insult to the Highest Dignity” [Kim Jong Eun], while

investigation teams made up of political university students affiliated with

the Ministry of People’s Security have been dispatched to areas abutting the border

with China.

Through its network of

local sources, Daily NK has been keeping a close watch on the situation in the

porous border region, and the regime’s recent crackdowns appear to be having an

impact. For instance, sources testify to border guards betraying the

identities of smugglers and would-be defectors, in some cases even after their silence has been bought.

One such source in

Musan, North Hamkyung Province, told Daily NK, “Among the border guards, everyone

from officer down to soldier maintains ties with brokers and regular border-crossers.

That’s because without those connections you would starve to death. People who can’t

make money helping people cross the river are dismissed as fools.”

However, recent orders

from above are having an impact on this system, the source explained. “Security

has been beefed up and the locals are all on edge. Above all, stricter

punishment for guards and brokers who aid defectors has led to an increase in

the number of betrayals. People are losing money, and occasionally their

lives; they are seeing their hopes and dreams disappear.”

Moreover, “When

frequent border-crossers or traders get caught, they’re released as long as they

pay the right bribe. But this doesn’t work for border guards who help people

defect. There are guards facing punishment after smugglers they previously helped

ratted them out.”

Border guards are not

always on the receiving end, however. Despite smuggling and defections

decreasing across the board, potential defectors are allegedly being arrested

in increasing numbers. “Would-be defectors are being arrested after being

betrayed by the guards they sought help from. These people are hauled

straight to the State Security Department and are beaten and tortured harshly.”

A second source from

Hoeryeong, who has a great deal of experience traversing the river with

assistance from border guards, claims that defectors and smugglers apprehended

by the security forces employ a range of methods to try and ensure their

survival.

“It is simply a matter

of time before those operating along the river are caught. It might be a

year; it might be two. But they will eventually get caught. They just have

to be arrested once by the security police, and if they beaten half to death

they will reveal everything. At that point, the most important thing is

getting out alive.”

“They can come out

alive and continue operating on the Tumen River for a long time if they don’t

reveal who helped them. But to keep going like that, you have to be sharp. You

have to answer all the questions well. If you keep saying you don’t know

anything, the interrogator will get angry and you get beaten,” the source went

on.

However, “If you’re

beaten that badly you eventually talk. If you keep repeating you know nothing

from the outset, and then later someone is arrested and contradicts you, then

you are sent straight to a prison camp. So you have to answer.”