{"id":4629,"date":"2020-06-24T18:18:30","date_gmt":"2020-06-24T09:18:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4629"},"modified":"2020-06-25T17:05:46","modified_gmt":"2020-06-25T08:05:46","slug":"interview-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/06\/military\/interview-2\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInterview with N. Korean residents (Part 1)\uff1e \u201cSouth Korea at Fault This Time\u201d: North Korean Citizens Sympathize with Decision to Destroy Joint Liaison Office"},"content":{"rendered":"

On June 16, the Kim Jong-un regime blew up an inter-Korean joint liaison office in Kaesong, sending shockwaves through South Korean society.<\/p>\n

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In an official statement, Kim Yo-jung hurled abusive language at President Moon. This picture was taken during her visit to South Korea in February 2018. Photograph released by South Korea\u2019s presidential office<\/p><\/div>\n

North Korea is strongly attacking North Korean defector groups for defaming Kim Jong-un by sending \u201cblasphemous\u201d flyers across the border. Over the last week, North Korean students, workers, and residents have been mobilized across the country for mass rallies with harsh slogans such as \u201cTear into and kill human scum defectors.\u201d Each day, state-run media has posted pictures of the large crowds at these events, showing the people\u2019s fury at North Korean defectors and the Moon Jae-in government.<\/p>\n

In a statement issued on June 13, Kim Yo-jung declared that the North\u2019s actions were \u201cfirmly supported by domestic public opinion.\u201d But what is the real atmosphere inside North Korea? What are the real sentiments of the North Korean people?<\/p>\n

ASIAPRESS urgently contacted two reporting partners living in the northern region of North Korea, interviewing them through smuggled Chinese mobile phones. (ISHIMARU Jiro\/Kang Ji-won)<\/p>\n

\u25c6 South Korea at fault this time<\/h2>\n

First, we will relay the opinions of reporting partner \u201cA\u201d, a resident of Ryanggang Province in his 40\u2019s. ASIAPRESS spoke with the reporting partner on June 17, the day after the liaison office was demolished. With over 4 years of experience reporting for ASIAPRESS, the reporting partner is not only critical of the Kim Jong-un regime but is also very knowledgeable about South Korean and international affairs.<\/p>\n

-- Did you see the footage of the explosion of the joint liaison office?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Yes, I saw it. But, I must ask, why are there groups that are sending over propaganda leaflets when the government is trying to maintain friendly relations? It is strange for the same population to be engaged in both activities.<\/p>\n

-- Is that your own thinking? Or is that how the authorities have explained their actions?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: That is what we have been taught at our political ideology lectures. The officials there have been saying, \u201cWe won\u2019t deal with South Korea.\u201d However, I also feel that way about the issue this time. We haven\u2019t made any recent provocations like a nuclear test or anything.<\/p>\n

--So you also believe that South Korea is in the wrong for sending the propaganda leaflets? How do average North Koreans feel about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: This time, I think many people understand the rationale behind the decision to blow up the liaison office. At the time of the inter-Korean summit, we were enjoying such good relations that we thought that unification could be just around the corner. But our lives didn\u2019t improve at all and South Korea continued sending propaganda leaflets. We couldn\u2019t just sit by and do nothing. I also believe that Moon Jae-in and South Korea were in the wrong this time.
\nNext page :\u25c6 A returning volley of 100-1,000 times...<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6 A returning volley of 100-1,000 times more propaganda leaflets<\/h2>\n

-- So you are saying that the issue was the insult to North Korean dignity. Are the authorities saying that they are ready to go to war over this?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Yes. What is emphasized at meetings is that Kim Jong-un is the supreme leader, our \u201csun.\u201d It is therefore unacceptable to insult his dignity. If the South touch him, we will retaliate with 100-1,000 times more force. That is the perspective of the authorities.<\/p>\n

-- The North Korean people would have no choice but to retaliate in such a way right? Do you not believe that this domestic atmosphere has been purposefully fostered at the direction of the authorities?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: We have been told that the South Koreans have been sending dirty leaflets. I think that everybody just throws the leaflets straight into the fire. I talked to a member of the police yesterday and he said that the United States is controlling South Korea and is really behind the sending of the leaflets. To me, the demolition of the liaison office is a warning that says, \u201cYou better behave, Moon Jae-in.\u201d<\/p>\n

-- South Korea paid 17 million won to construct that joint liaison office. Isn\u2019t it wrong to take the unilateral action of demolishing it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I don\u2019t think it is right. However, if Kim Jong-un is insulted, we are prepared to go to war. The cost is of no consequence.
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\n-- The North Korean people continue to suffer because of the sanctions brought against the regime for not giving up its nuclear weapons, not to mention the coronavirus.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: I understand that our poverty is due to the regime not giving up nuclear weapons. But, as the top officials say, \u201cWe will not get eaten by the United States because we have nuclear weapons. We must not give up our nuclear weapons.\u201d Many amongst the population believe that the dignity of our people is being protected by the nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n

\u25c6 Complaints about the economy redirected through campaign against S. Korea<\/h2>\n

According to the reporting partner, the Moon Jae-in administration and North Korean defectors have been the targets of condemnation at local political unit (inminban) meetings and political ideology lectures. Since the border with China was sealed off in late January to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, North Korea\u2019s economy has seriously deteriorated, drawing complaints from senior officials and common laborers alike.<\/p>\n

After two years of disappointment following the inter-Korean summit, the North Korean public seem to be sympathetic towards the regime\u2019s latest campaign against South Korea. (Continued to Part 2<\/strong> >><\/a>)<\/p>\n

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