North Korea has launched a crackdown on the unauthorized use, production, and sale of military uniforms and equipment. A proclamation issued by the Ministry of Social Security and posted in Kaechon, South Pyongan province, on Sept. 1 explicitly bans these activities.
According to a source in the province recently, the proclamation contained seven articles and criticized some people for causing social disorder by illegally wearing military equipment, including camouflage uniforms, and even tarnishing the image of the North Korea’s revolutionary army by committing crimes or illegal acts in military clothing.
The proclamation issued by the Ministry of Social Security warned people against 1) illegally wearing military equipment, including camouflage uniforms; 2) illegally making or selling military uniforms, hats, belts, caps, military insignia or epaulets; or 3) illegally selling military equipment in commercial establishments or markets. It also called on military stores not to sell military equipment to civilians.
In the order, the ministry told workplaces that manufacture, store, or distribute military equipment to avoid illegally providing their goods to individual civilians under various pretexts.
The Ministry of Social Security warned that it would step up education and inspections to eliminate the illegal use, production and sale of military equipment, and severely punish people who commit crimes or sow social confusion while wearing military uniforms.
“Not only is it easier to evade raids and inspections when you’re wearing a military uniform, but it’s also easier to travel to other regions. Also, you can be more threatening when you’re disguised as a soldier and better avoid police pursuit after you’ve robbed or burglarized someone,” the source said. “So it’s become a trend for soldiers to keep wearing their uniforms even after they’re discharged, and there’s an increasing number of crimes committed by ordinary people in military uniforms.”
In fact, North Koreans use military uniforms as work clothes and even, with a few modifications, as street clothes. The demand for military uniforms is so great that private individuals receive requests to have them tailored, and market vendors distribute higher quality and better-looking military uniforms than even soldiers receive.
The North Korean authorities believe that the illegal wearing of military uniforms by civilians and the illegal production and sale of military equipment tarnish the image of the North Korean army and cause social problems, including public safety issues. Accordingly, they have adopted a policy of thoroughly cracking down on these practices to eradicate them.
Separately, the Ministry of Social Security called on the public to immediately report people who illegally manufacture or sell military equipment and for violators to turn themselves in. Furthermore, it said it would show leniency to people who turn themselves in during the first month after the proclamation.
The ministry also warned that it would crack down on and punish anyone who violates the law, regardless of rank, workplace, past service or jurisdiction, and confiscate the illegally used military gear, equipment, supplies and cash.
“Most people in this country own at least one military uniform,” the source said. “According to the proclamation, inspections of people in military uniforms have begun, and now you can’t wear military uniforms as street clothes or work clothes.”
The Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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October 16, 2024 at 12:15PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)