Tensions are rising among North Korean workers overseas as authorities intensify surveillance to prevent defections, Daily NK has learned.
A source in Russia, speaking anonymously for security reasons, said Monday that serious fights break out two to three times weekly in a group of military construction workers recently sent to Vladivostok.
Nearby workers rush to break up fights, but with tempers flaring, both fighters and peacemakers often end up injured.
These clashes stem from increased mutual surveillance among workers.
North Korean authorities have long assigned security officials to trading companies to monitor overseas workers. Recently, they have stepped up efforts, ordering on-site officers to “strictly block” escapes in Russia.
Security officers plant “spies” in every work group to report on their comrades’ actions and words.
“If three people gather, one is definitely a Ministry of State Security spy,” the source said. “People often face criticism after confiding in a supposed trusted comrade, only to be reported secretly.”
Violence abounds amid heightened tensions
One Vladivostok construction worker was reprimanded after complaining to a coworker that “work was too hard” and he “sometimes thinks he came overseas for nothing.” When he discovered who informed on him, he attacked the informer.
Another worker was criticized for speaking with an Uzbek coworker. He then fought with a colleague he suspected of snitching.
With workers facing criticism for unenthusiastic performance or merely complaining about work difficulties, the atmosphere in workgroups has become tense. Many no longer speak to one another, even during meals.
These tensions are not limited to specific locations. They are emerging in North Korean labor groups across several Russian regions.
“As mutual surveillance intensifies to prevent defections, stress is reaching a breaking point. More workers want to leave their groups,” the source said. “Workgroups are completely split due to the spies. If this continues, there could be mass defections.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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August 01, 2024 at 08:04AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)