In the weeks leading up to North Korea’s
70th Party Foundation Day on October 10, authorities have been stepping up
efforts to stem potential accidents or mishaps, cutting off access to Pyongyang
starting mid-September. This has clogged up distribution across markets, angering residents in large numbers, Daily NK has learned.
“Following orders to ‘prevent and expose
all hostile activities in a timely fashion’ during preparation for the military
parade and foundation day events, Pyongyang has been completely sealed off for
over 20 days,” a source in Pyongyang told Daily NK on Sunday. “This has bogged
down all people, buses, passenger cars, and trucks coming in from other areas.”
This information was cross-checked with an
additional Pyongyang-based source and an informant in South Pyongan Province.
In order to ensure this measure is
implemented, the State Security Department has increased its forces at Dongbuk
no. 10 and Yongsong no. 10 checkpoints by double, and they patrol the areas not
only in broad daylight but also at dusk, combing through areas around the
inspection point and even paths in the mountains, according to the source.
In Pyongyang, they are amping up training
for the military parade, while city residents are suffering from the
disconnection in the distribution of goods from markets, he said.
“Soldiers, university students, athletes,
artists and everyone else involved in the training say they can endure the
hardships involved in practicing for the event,” he said. “But with the capital isolated and cut
off from supplies, people are getting increasingly resentful.”
Traders have their hands tied as well.
Those who usually buy goods at wholesale markets such as South Pyongan
Province’s Pyongsong Market and North Pyongan Province’s Sinuiju Market and
distribute them at Pyongyang Market are at a standstill. With this, market
prices have soared, pushing the cost of electronic goods like televisions,
refrigerators, and washing machines over the top.
Most people, he said, are now just “waiting
for the 10th to pass, and prices to return to normal levels.”
“People in Pyongyang are especially showing
strong reactions to the hike in prices of LPG and coal, which they need every
day for heating and cooking. Coal prices have especially been climbing by 2 USD
on a daily basis since the start of October. Powdered coal trades for 30 USD a
ton now, and briquettes are 60 USD a ton ,” the source reported. “People are
gearing up for the cold winter, so this is causing a lot of anger.”
Some city residents are taking note of the
ferries that are making appearances on the Taedong River and the eye-catching
street decorations, but most, according to the source, are unhappy with the blockage of goods, saying “it’s hard to understand what type of serious threat circulating supplies via the markets could possibly pose.”
