The North Korean authorities have formed new inspection teams to address border security concerns, and have been explicitly branding defection an

act that “defames our Highest Dignity,” Daily NK has learned. The step

comes after the Ministry of People’s Security

distributed new guidelines in order to ramp up public surveillance following the

execution of Jang Song Taek last month.

“An

‘anti-Socialist inspection team’ has been created out of the graduating class of

a university of politics under the Ministry of People’s

Security in Pyongyang, and it’s making people very nervous,” a source from northerly

Yangkang Province reported to Daily NK on the 15th. “Border security

was tightened at the time they started their inspections, and I hear that the

number of people getting caught trying to cross the border has been rising.”

“On

the 13th a family attempting to go across the border was

apprehended by a border patrol and some members of the inspection team,” the source went on to allege. “The students have fire in their eyes and really

want to get some inspection results. Admittedly they’re just students, but

because they are about to graduate they really want to show loyalty to the

authorities. There’s little chance of avoiding punishment for people caught by them.”

The inspection team stationed in Hyesan has been

tasked with cracking down on defection, smuggling, human trafficking and drug-related activities, the source explained. Defection is being addressed as both betrayal of the nation and refusal to follow the leadership of Kim Jong Eun. It is thus harshly punishable as defamation of North

Korea’s “highest dignity,” meaning Kim Jong Eun himself.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of State Security has been linking up with

smugglers to help track would-be defectors. “They want

to block off the flow of defections across the border; that’s why they are getting re-defectors to criticize the South and have been enhancing border security,” the source said. “At

the same time they are turning smugglers to their side to find and

arrest those who do try it.”

A second source from Hoeryeong in North Hamkyung Province reported a

similar situation there, saying, “Just recently a family heading for South Korea via a broker was arrested on the border. Even border guards and agents who would normally be willing to take a bribe to

help defectors are doing this crackdown properly because they don’t want to get

caught up in anything bad during the inspection period.”

“Across

the whole border area around Musan they’ve been stepping up efforts against defectors,

those who help them, and the smugglers who deal in drugs and illegal recordings,” a

third source from Musan in North Hamkyung Province disclosed. “When it comes to

nabbing defectors, the authorities have gotten smarter than before. Even people

who’ve paid a bribe to defect have been getting caught recently.”

“They’re

offering rewards for catching defectors,” the souce said. “They say that anyone crossing the Tumen River without permission will be shot at,

but if you apprehend a defector you’ll receive a commendation and Party

membership.”