North Korea Today No. 212

Chungjin City Changes Labor Laws After Criticism from the Central Party
Lecture on "Never trespass on or steal from the government-owned grain farm"
Eunduk County, forty women are missing
Eunduk County, Lectures about restricting illegal border-crossing
Manpo City, open execution of human trafficker
Kangye City, Public Prosecutors Discharged because of Luxury Homes

Chungjin City Changes Labor Laws After Criticism from the Central Party
Chungjin City of North Hamgyong Province, which had decided not to restrict under-age labor at the market since August 26th, changed its decision after receving criticism from the Central Party. The office of North Hamgyong Province is challenging the decision from the Party and ordered the City Party of Chungjin to investigate juvenile workers again. On August 28th, the City Party had a conference regarding management of the market. The conference was attended by the head of the regional police station, director and assistant director of the market management office of each division, the head of the public prosecutor’s station, and the Chairman of the People’s Committee.

The conference’s decision states: “Starting September 1st, 2008, females under forty years old cannot sell at the market and all the goods they have will be confiscated. The market management office will give permission to females over forty-one years of age. The Regional People's Assembly(구역인민위원회) will be in charge of keeping the market order. The regional police station will handle those people who do not follow the new market management rule, and is also responsible for increasing awareness of the change in the law. Legal controls at the market should be strengthened, anyone who violates the rule will be punished." The Party Secretary of Chungjin City(청진시당 책임비서) said, "Make a plan to deal with residents who do not follow the new market management. It could be compulsory. But do not fight with people and try to avoid conflict by restricting people's public opinions and behavior. Be careful not to create a collective clash similar to the last time and to also not aggravate public opinion."

Lecture on "Never trespass on or steal from the government-owned grain farm"
An increasing number of farms in South Hwanghae, South Pyongan and South Hamgyong Province are having problems with corn robbery. The party is holding lectures on "never trespass on or steal from the government-owned farm." The lecture explains that if a farmer steals more than an ear of corn, his food for the fall will be reduced by 20kg and if the amount stolen is more than five ears, the thief will be sent to the discipline center for three months. A farm in South Hwanghae Province lost hundreds of ears of corn in a single night. The amount stolen could fill a space of 200 to 300 pyong평. Due to bad weather, corn in South Pyongan Province had poor pollination. In addition, fertilizer was delivered late and thus was applied inefficiently. Therefore, the yield for this year will be very low. Corn thieves will also decrease the harvest. Thus, the party ordered every farm to be more vigilant during the day and night.

Eunduk County, forty women are missing
In Eunduk County of North Hamgyong Province, forty women have gone missing since this past March. Many young women are leaving their families and going to China because the food price has skyrocketed and the supply is still insufficient. Approximately four to five women left during the spring. Since July, the number of women leaving has increased, with twenty leaving in August. As housewives have left, the number of homeless (Kkotjebi) has also been increasing.

Eunduk County, Lectures about restricting illegal border-crossing
The Propaganda Department of the Armed Forces Party of Eunduk County, North Hamgyong Province dispatched some of its members to educate neighborhood units regarding restrictions on illegal border crossing. The purpose of this education is to prevent residents from even thinking about crossing the river illegally. This will be accomplished by teaching people about the punishment they will receive when they get caught. It is more than simple education. If a family member crosses the river, then the rest of the family will be brought to public attention, threatened, then humiliated. The lecture emphasized that residents should educate their children about this issue.

Manpo City, open execution of human trafficker
On August 26th, two of three offenders of the Human-trafficking who sold women to China were executed in public. Six leading members of the City Party and seven company managers and party secretaries were discharged because they lived in luxury houses. In early August, there was an open execution of drug dealers.

Kangye City, Public Prosecutors Discharged because of Luxury Homes
Two prosecutors of the Kangye Public Prosecutor office were caught during an inspection by the anti-socialist investigation patrol and lost their jobs. The prosecutors had secretly hoarded building materials that were imported last year and used them to rebuild their houses. The newly built houses were confiscated because these luxury homes were built with materials that belong to the country. The discharged prosecutors were deported to the local farm. Their houses will be distributed to the poorest soldiers, who can fit three families in each house.