◆ Mobilization in local communities and the workplace
The reporting partner continued to testify about the charges and proceedings of the crowd trial in Rason based on information obtained from a police officer.
"The charges in the crowd trial were anti-socialist acts such as watching South Korean movies, using drugs, and non-socialist acts including being unemployed, polygamy, and unauthorized residence. The trial proceeded while blocking the entry of Chinese people or other foreigners, and each neighborhood’s Inminban (residents' meeting at the lowest administration level where a number of households are grouped together) and enterprises were obligated to be present.
According to the reporting partner, the slogan "Let's root out anti-socialism!" appeared during the exhibition and the authorities are planning to hold further crowd trials in other areas to make an example of non-socialists, with a trial to be held soon in ●● City.
Also, the reporting partner said that the offenders in this crowd trial would not be able to ‘get away by paying bribes or using personal connections’ because of the severity of the situation.
The crackdowns on anti- and non-socialist behavior by the North Korean authorities have been strengthened this year, but have intensified since the April summits with South Korea, China and the U.S. It seems that the authorities are taking precautionary measures against residents fantasizing about the outside world and laxity of control.
※ ASIAPRESS contacts its reporting partners by bringing Chinese mobile phones into North Korea.
