N.Korean Rulers Worried Over Devaluation Backlash; Military Put On Sub-War Level Alert (Breaking)

Chosun Ilbo News, Seoul, S. Korea (original in Japanese) ^ | 7 December 2009 Pearl Harbor Day | Anh Yon Hyon, Reporter

[AmericanInTokyo]

OK, this is confusing: but this is the LINK to the original Japanese language article from the conservative/trustworthy South Korean "Chonsun Ilbo" daily newspaper website in Korean which reported from a Russian news agency just a little while ago.

The headline is 北朝鮮デノミ：「住民騒乱を懸念、軍が戦闘準備」 ("North Korean Currency Devaluation: Worries Over Uprising By North Korean People; North Korean Army Goes on Sub-War Status")

[AmericanInTokyo]

Upshot of the article (at 8:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern Sunday):

--The North Korean (KPA) Korean Peoples Army, concerned about popular uprising growing in North Korean over the recent devaluation of the NK currency, has expressed worries and accordingly has gone on a sub-war footing in response and in advance.

--The information came out of North Korea from a Russian diplomat who reported it to the mainline Russian economic news source Kommersant (Коммерсантъ ), and was then relayed in the Korean language and then into Japanese on the Chosun site from South Korea.

--North Korea has ordered shops closed. People who have the old usely notes cannot use them. The popular sentiment among the North Korean people is that "the North Korean leadership has just boldly stolen from them without inpunity."

--Not just the average North Korean people are affected. FOREIGN DIPLOMATS STATIONED TO PYONGYANG ARE ANGRY AND HAVE FORMED GROUPS AND ARE TELLING THE NORTH KOREAN AUTHORITIES THEY WANT THE DEVALUATION RESCINDED AND THEIR CURRENT /OLD NOTES RESPECTED.

--North Korean Supreme Military Authority has issued shoot-to-kill orders on the Chinese-DPRK border for anyone trying to leave. Authorities are afraid of massive escapes by "middle class North Koreans with gold", getting out while they can. They accordingly want to zip up the country ASAP with such an order.

--South Korean government says there are no major reports of large scale demos or group defections, but since the North Korean people would have a difficult time organizing in such a police state, their only other option would be to flee the country, therefore the NK leadership is taking this preemptive action.

--In Hamgyonbukdo region's Chonjin City (清津市)and and Pyonganando region's Pyongsong (平城市) City, etc. there have been reports of the North Korea People starting to deface and rip up of the new DPRK currency notes with the image of deceased leader Kim Il Sung's photo on them; this cause the local Public Security Bureau of North Korean police to go on emergency alert.

--Reports of a death now in Ryongando over the currency exchange. Either an official or a citizen was pummeled to death over an argument. Anti Kim Jong il grafitti and circulars are starting. A woman running a cosmetics shops was taken into custody for yelling at the North Korean Worker's (Communist) Party authorities as well.

--Other issues such as cities not receiving the new denominations but then the period to exchange the old notes running out, is causing anger and confusion.

--Heart attacks (of elderly losing most of their savings in one fell swoop), suicides and arson reports are also emerging from North Korea (this from other multiple Asian news sources I found).

(End my summary/translation)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ping!

Great time for Obama to send Stephen Bosworth and Son Kim from the State Department to Pyongyang, tomorrow our time, to kowtow, eh? / sarc

[txhurl]

BTTT

[mitchbert]

This may be bigger than we might think. Keep an eye, and be safe.

[gogogodzilla]

Here’s the link to the original version (in English) at the Digital Chosun Ilbo.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/07/2009120700209.html

And here are three related articles about the currency conversion:

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/03/2009120300331.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/03/2009120300576.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/02/2009120200765.html

[skr]

May the people of North Korea come to know true freedom that only comes from our Lord and Savior. I can’t imagine how it must be to live under such oppression.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Indeed. Pyongyang Radio domestic service listened to last night was getting really rabid. Will try to listen again tonight. They come in very clear into Tokyo this time of the year, heading into winter.

[AmericanInTokyo]

There is cannibalism up there. It is actually that desperate. Actual, true reports of it from multiple sources. One can only hope and pray that this is the beginning of the end. The only person who can prop it up and give new life to the Pyongyang Regime would be, Barack Hussein Obama, with loan guarantees, rice shipments or other such "enticements" through a sellout deal in Pyongyang or Beijing so that he could validate his Nobel Peace Price. (Hmmm, mmmm, MMMM!).

Always remember the Communist definition of "peace" is quite different than the standard definition.

This could be an interesting several weeks here at years' end. We will just have to see.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Thank you! Gee I would not have done all that work if I had know the English version is already out there! ;-) LOL (kind of)....

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[mkjessup]

Thanks for the ping AiT!

"Tree bark is GOOD for you! Vote KIM JONG IL!"


Just when you think things can't possibly get worse for the long suffering North Korean people, it does.

And of course our own Dear Comrade will most likely offer to help prop up the Dear Leader's regime in the interest of 'stability on the Korean peninsula' (or some crapola like that).

I hope the South Koreans AND the Japanese (might as well include Taiwan too) understand fully that they cannot depend on the 0bamunists that have seized control of our government.

It's the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, I have adjusted my tagline accordingly.

[Moe Tzadik]

BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8394987.stm

[hennie pennie]

unexpected variable *ping*

[AmericanInTokyo]

I am VERY AFRAID that at this possible tipping point, finally, after 60 years of this fraudulent DPRK business that General MacArthur is turning over in his grave about, is exactly what the State Department will suggest to keep Kim Jong il afloat, and Barack Obama would sign off on such an insanity.

It would be a travesty. In my book it would be an impeachable if not worse offense against the United States AND humanity. How could we, any of us, sit through and watch a Nobel Peace Prize recipient ceremony, with such blood indirectly on the hands of our own leader?

I hope and pray that Gov. Sarah Palin, Amb. John Bolton or somebody else of great stature would stand up tomorrow in the US and put a major spotlight on this against the backdrop of the Bosworth Pyongyang Mission.

[gogogodzilla]

Not a problem.

Also, if you’ve got any Korean language material you need translated, I can help. I can’t gaurantee how good the translation will be, but I can get by whenever I have to head out that way.

---

Also, here’s a good website for a laugh. It’s the official North Korean news service (Choson Tongshin). It’s filled with the wholesome goodness of antique, Soviet-era anti-Western propaganda.

(The first time I read it, they referred to the South Korean government as a ‘flunkyist puppet regime’... and I was laughing at it all night long.)

http://www.kcna.co.jp/

[AmericanInTokyo]

Bump!

[skr]

Horrifying.

[autumnraine]

Oh dear!! This sounds grim. And of course the MSM is talking about what clothes Michelle Obama wore (or didn’t wear?) to light a Christmas tree.

I never even heard they devalued their currency!!

Please keep us posted AIT and if you could, maybe you could start a ping list for Japan/NK/SK/China that is on the Japanese press? I would appreciate it and I know others would too!

[gogogodzilla]

March 8th:

Great People's Parliament member election day!

Every must cast a vote! (or else)

[rdl6989]

...there have been reports of the North Korea People starting to deface and rip up of the new DPRK currency notes with the image of deceased leader Kim Il Sung's photo on them;

Isn't this punishable by death normally in NK?