- 20,000 more troops guarding border region
- Attempted defectors enemies of the system
- People robbing to get by


A Sinuiju source reported January 5th that 20,000 extra troops have been deployed to the border region with China to prevent defections in the wake of Kim Jong-il's death. The shoot to kill order has already been followed through with the widely reported killing of three men attempting defection recently. The order is not just part and parcel of the new leader's will to impose himself on North Korea but also to prevent an uncontrollable rise in the defection tendency.

The policy reflects the North Korean authorities' great fear that defections will rise. The problem is being exacerbated by the increasing rise of late in group defections amongst those living comparatively well.

Those at home and abroad may stir opposition to the regime so bringing down the aim of the regime for the country to be seen as acting as a unified nation in mourning following the death of its two decade dictator.

"The continual message is about building a strong and prosperous nation for 2012 but ordinary folk not in the business of trading, especially trading with the Chinese, are drawing comparison with the mid-nineties arduous march," said the source.

"People thought the son successor might open up and reform the country but they're demoralized to see foreign currency use restrictions imposed and a deepening of state oppression," the source went on. "People are just waiting to see how severe the repression will get."

The order to ban foreign currency use in the markets came following a period in which market trading was shut down completely. Chinese traders themselves are not permitted to use the yuan. Anyone caught using any foreign currency is to be dealt with like drug dealers. There are few wholesale transactions involving Chinese goods. It is not uncommon for those at the very bottom to make raids on their neighbors domestic stores such is the paralysis within the economy.

"Restrictions on getting water mean some people can't even get it if they come home late. So there are fights with soldiers. People can no longer smuggle. The phone system has been interfered with so you can't make calls to China and inland. All in all its an anxious time and an atmosphere of great caution."

Translation by Danny Lee