Police officers responsible for escort duty along the railway stood guard in freezing cold when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Samjiyon, Ryanggang province, to attend the ribbon-cutting of a new hotel late last month.
A source in Ryanggang province told Daily NK recently that Hyesan police received an urgent order on December 19 due to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a hotel in Samjiyon. The order signaled Kim Jong Un would attend the event, so city police immediately gathered their flashlights, batons, armbands, and whistles and deployed to their assigned railroad section.
When a lightning order is issued, local police immediately lock down railways in their jurisdiction and deploy officers for guard duty. When this order was issued, Hyesan’s police deployed officers along the railway around Komsan-ri Station and Wiyon Station—every 50 meters along curved sections of the tracks, and every 100 meters on straight sections.
According to the source, Kim’s train usually runs at night, so officers must stand watch for over 20 hours each time such an order is given.
In the latest case, officers had to stand guard without shift changes in bitter cold, with temperatures dropping close to -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit).
“Because one has to provide their own meals when doing escort duty like this, the police officers prepared rice balls,” the source said. “Experienced officers brought small liquor bottles or snacks to warm themselves, but those without experience had to make do with a single rice ball.”
Pride and pressure in escort duty
About 60% of Hyesan’s police force gets deployed to railway escort duty. Officers who were previously warned for on-duty mistakes are strictly excluded from escort duty—much to their shame and humiliation within the police force.
On the other hand, officers deployed to escort duties feel proud of the mission.
“It’s not easy to stand guard all night in the middle of winter with a single rice ball, but many police officers say they feel proud escorting the Leader when his train passes,” the source said. “The nation will survive with such loyal elements around.”
“Because any mistakes that arise during escort duty can be regarded as treason, police officers rush to work without even telling their families where they’re going—even if their families inquire, they tell them not to ask,” the source said. “This time as well, only when an event in which Kim Jong Un personally participates safely ended could the police officers relax.”
January 20, 2026 at 06:48PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)