In order to prepare for the 7th Party

Congress, North Korea is in the midst of a self-proclaimed “70-Day Battle,” a

propaganda campaign to mobilize its citizens and accelerate projects and

initiatives. Most recently, this includes a directive obliging young students

and factory laborers to collect scrap iron for steel mills to produce

high-tensile steel.

A source in South Pyongan Province told

Daily NK on April 8 that as a result of the order, specifically targeting

elementary to university level students as well as factory workers, some are

resorting to burglarizing and looting factories to fulfill their scrap metal

quotas.

Sources in North Pyongan Province, Ryanggang Province, and North and South Hamgyong Provinces reported the same developments in their respective regions.

“Young

students are breaking into factories in the middle of the night to steal the

iron components from equipment and building structures. Because of this,

scuffles have broken out. There are even stories emerging of students being

severely beaten by security guards posted at the factories.”

“These security guards,” the source went

on, “are made up of discharged soldiers and they are known for their propensity

to capture and brutally attack male and female students who try to strip the

factories. There are also a number of reports of security guards in various

places detaining the students until their parents arrive to pick them up.”

The source added, “There have been reports

of furious family members arriving at the factories and tussling with the

security guards after seeing how severely their children were beaten. Some of

the parents have even sought out school authorities and complained, ‘If you

order the kids to go and collect iron, how do you think they’re going to get

it?’ The parents have also criticized such orders for being tantamount to

encouraging their children to steal.” Many parents have made special requests

to their district Party representatives to exempt their children from the iron

mandate.

This directive is not the first of its

kind. The regime has historically ordered its citizens to collect iron on an

annual basis in a bid to compensate for material shortages. Authorities

typically demand 20 kg of scrap iron from each person, with slight adjustments

based on age. But many residents have evidently run out of options for

obtaining further scrap metal, with some having no choice but to contribute

their own kitchen utensils and equipment.

This year is said to be the most difficult

yet, due to the additional requirements needed for the first Party Congress in

36 years, slated for May. Iron quotas have been raised, and strict punishments

announced if these goals are not met. This, in turn, has driven a surge in

illicit behavior as citizens run out of viable options.

The recent order stipulates a requirement

for higher grade iron, and so people are beginning to steal strollers and car

parts that are left unattended in the street. There are even stories of people

breaking into parked train carriages and dismantling the metal luggage racks so

as to fulfill their quota. Consequently, he said, “residents are

calling the iron directive an ‘order to steal.’”

“We’re always told about war [by the

authorities]. War is on its way! But clearly, if the country is this

desperate for iron, there is no way we could fight a war,” the source said,

citing sentiments discreetly voiced by residents among themselves.