◆State agencies involved in smuggling
Hit hard by the United Nations' economic sanctions, North Korea is actively engaged in illegal trade with China.
Along the upper reaches of the Yalu River lies a hotbed for smuggling, where trading companies under orders from "Department 39" of the North Korean government do deals at the border with the tacit consent of the Chinese authorities.
The most active spot on the border for smuggling is near Nuppyong, about an hour's drive downstream from Hyesan, the central city of Yanggang Province.
Our investigative partner living in Yanggang Province described activity in the area thusly: "From night until morning, banned products come across the border wholesale. By bus, truck, or train, electrical products and other goods come through. The vehicles return from North Korea loaded with textile products, seafood, herbal medicine, timber, and ore."
◆Destitute soldiers raid trading companies for smuggled goods
In mid-September, there was an incident in which an officer died while attempting to raid smuggled goods. Our partner in North Korea made inquiries in the area and reported that, "One night, a sergeant of the border guard tried to steal a truck loaded with herbal medicine from the Chinese side of the border, but died when the truck went over a ledge and crashed."
Along the upper stretches of the Yalu River, smuggling has long been prevalent but, as economic sanctions became tighter this year, state agencies took over the smuggling channels previously used by civilians. Border guards were forced to crack down on private smuggling and could no longer receive bribes for turning a blind eye to smuggling, losing a vital source of supplemental income. Without the cash from bribes, malnourishment has become widespread across the military, with the units not being sufficiently supplied with food and daily necessities by the regime.
Reflecting on the gravity of the crisis, our reporting partner said, "If a sergeant, rather than one of the soldiers, has to steal smuggled goods to get by, the soldiers must be having a very hard time of it...this is a very serious situation. The trade companies are posting guards to watch over their smuggled goods but can't prevent theft by both impoverished civilians and soldiers." (Kang Ji-won)
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Editor’s notes on North Korean reporters
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