North Korean military officials have arrested four officers at a military film studio for possessing South Korean e-books, considered “reactionary media” by the regime.
A source in Pyongyang revealed recently that the incident occurred at the Military Science Film Studio in late September. “The military’s state security department conducted an unannounced search, took four officers into custody, and held a major ideological struggle session at the studio,” he said.
The officers were caught secretly reading dozens of South Korean e-books stored on external hard drives and USB flash drives during night shifts. They had been smuggling the memory cards into work in their backpacks or uniform pockets, waiting for quiet moments to access the content.
The arrests came after an informant at the film studio tipped off the state security department. Agents monitored the officers to confirm the behavior before conducting a surprise search, finding the incriminating memory cards on their persons.
“The incident sent shockwaves through the film studio,” the source said. In response, the studio’s party committee and the state security department organized an ideological struggle session and intensive training for all staff and managers.
During the late September session, the arrested officers were denounced as “ideologically filthy opportunists” who had “infiltrated the film studio” and “undermined its ideological atmosphere by collecting reactionary media.” Organizers called for increased vigilance against such behavior.
While the state security department attempted to keep the incident quiet, rumors have already spread throughout the studio and into Pyongyang. Staff members are curious about the origin and content of the South Korean e-books.
“Despite the security agents’ warnings, studio staff have learned about what happened, and the news has reached downtown Pyongyang through their family members,” the source added.
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 08, 2024 at 12:36PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)