Posted on 02/13/2007 7:33:03 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Asahi TV's on-site interview with the guards... "99% of guards are into smuggling."
[2007-02-13 19:02]
Asahi TV of Japan reported on Feb. 12 that they scored an interview with two recently escaped N. Korean border guards in an undisclosed Chinese city near Sino-N. Korean border.
The Daily NK first broke the story on Feb. 4 that approximately one platoon-full of border guards from Hoiryong District escaped to China, and (N. Korean) tracking squads are dispatched to capture them.
After our initial report, Asahi TV promptly dispatched news crews to Sino-N. Korean border area, and were able to meet the escaped guards in an undisclosed Chinese city.
To ensure their safety, Asahi TV said they would not disclose the date of their escape or identity.
The guards first showed the uniforms they used to wear, and said, "In N. Korea, these uniforms called Tiger Skin. If you wear them, nobody can touch you,” explaining the privilege the military enjoys inside N. Korea.
Asked about their escape route, they replied, "We only used mountain trails. It was really hard. It took a couple of days to escape."
About their reason for escape, they said, "We were (deep) into smuggling. If they ask women, we even did human trafficking. I earned 20,000 won in a year. Border guards were put under inspection this time. They said that they would kill anybody (who gets caught,) so we had to escape," acknowledging that they committed serious crimes.
They also said that they witnessed a public execution for those convicted of 'human trafficking' in Hoiryong in 2005. 'Human trafficking' is a serious felony in N. Korea, and dealt a severe punishment. It is apparent that the escaped guards feared that they could be executed if their deeds are uncovered.
Asahi footage also showed illegal activities of a N. Korean border guard filmed on the Chinese side across the border from Hoiryong in 2005. In it, a young soldier is shown to cross the river over to Chinese side.
He returns after picking up documents placed on the river side. He was working as a messenger to Chinese smuggler(s.)
The (interviewed) guards also said, "As far as we know, the inspection came about because they do not want these kind of incidents (corruption) at the birthplace of Dear General(Kim Jong-il)'s mother (Hoiryong.) We ran away because it is better than getting caught and executed in N. Korea."
Another guard said, "99% of border guards are taking part in smuggling. I earned 25,000 won in a year. I wanted to bring money with me when I get discharged."
20,000 won per year is way above the annual income of average N. Korean workers.
He said, "Money can take care of everything. N. Korea is already a capitalist society. Socialism? No way."
Of course, external pressure or sanctions played the part in this development, forcing these guardians of regime to make a living outside their duty. However, it was not sufficient enough, such attempts are about to cut drastically, if the new accords reached in Beijing is going as scheduled. It will lead to the reinjection of money and goods into N. Korea. So if anything can turn N. Korean regime upside down from now on, it would be the spreading belief of "Money is everything," born out of hopelessness of prolonged misery and destitution, and additionally the growing realization that there is a whole different world out there, made apparent by Chinese economic development and all bootleg video CD's of S. Korean dramas. It would not be due to any planned actions of external powers, military or economic or diplomatic. The latter are rendered marginal now.
Ping!
So, are they helping people escape N. Korea, or is it the more common type of human trafficking?
Tiger is me or what but I sense crack in Chia Pet regime here ROFL
I am glad they escaped and I will dance when the "dear" leader is dead.
They do anything for money. They help people to escape, do human trafficking, smuggling goods, or selling top-secret documents, all for "a right price."
They just love money.
I suspect that, if price is right, they could even become "contras."
For one or two hundred million dollars, I suspect we could even create a division of rebel soldiers and liberate N. Hamkyong Province, making it "Kurdistan" of N. Korea.
Thanks for this and all your other wonderful posts. You provide information unavailable anywhere else.
In South Korea, 20,000 won is around $25. Is it the same in North Korea?
No, their currency is approximately one third of S. Korean currency in value. Currently 1 USD = 930 SKor Won
They are dirt poor.
I heard that, for a few thousand dollars, you can smuggle out anybody from anywhere in N. Korea. Somebody in S. Korea or other places first pays smugglers. Then an instruction is passed down to 'workers' in the field. One of them shows up at the doorstep of where the target person lives, and tells him/her that somebody paid them to bring him/her out of N. Korea. The worker takes the target and hand the person to his next contact. This goes on multiple times inside N. Korea, over Sino-N. Korean border, inside China and eventually over another border(most likely between China and a S.E. Asian country) until he/she reaches the destination.
I suspect that this is for ordinary N. Korean people, not high level figures under tight surveillance. Obviously, high level figures are not for ordinary smuggling networks.
I'll bump that.
Thanks, Tiger
I'd say a severe crackdown is coming courtesy the runt, not a crack from within. These b@stards know how to keep control. Jast ask Hussein..whoops, you can't! But not because he was screwed from by an inside job.
Jast=just I'm going to bed............
I mistakenly thought at first that they were smuggling goods into N .K., and I wondered, where do the Norks get any money to buy smuggled goods?
But it's the reverse. They smuggle people out for money. Can't imagine how any Nork comes up with sufficient money, though.
They smuggle goods and people both ways. They scavenge scrap metals from decaying industrial facilities, smuggle drugs, fish products, mushrooms, prostitution, anything they lay their hands on, and sell them to Chinese counterpart.
For smuggling people out of N. Korea, money usually comes from outside, typically their relatives living abroad.
" 'Human trafficking' is a serious felony in N. Korea,"
Unless you are the North Korean Kim Ill-in-the-Head, Too-Much-Son. Then you kidnap all you want:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A40505-2003May10?language=printer
Of course, in that case, you have to be nice to Kim in order to get them back.
BTTT.
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