The Publication Censorship Department of the Korean People’s Army has begun an unprecedented inspection of electronic devices throughout the military to be carried out from September to November. The first inspection began Sept. 1 at the Eighth Corps in North Pyongan province, raising tensions within the unit as the sweeping checks were announced late last month.
The Publication Censorship Department is a special department of the General Political Bureau tasked with monitoring the registration and use of media players in the army and conducting regular and irregular inspections.
A source in the North Korean military told The Daily NK recently that the Publications Censorship Department has conducted extensive inspections of electronic devices in the offices of the Eighth Corps Headquarters, its subordinate units, and even in the homes of soldiers’ families. In particular, it has closely examined the registration of electronic devices and what soldiers have been watching on them.
“The inspection is very organized and thorough, as ordered by the General Political Bureau,” the source said. “Inspectors from the Publications Censorship Department check the registration of every electronic device, and if they find people using unregistered devices or discover that they’ve watched illegal, impure recordings, they immediately confiscate the device and investigate the people in question.”
Rising tensions in military as inspections commence
The inspection suggests that the authorities intend to tighten ideological control over the army.
“The inspection goes beyond simply checking devices and aims to prevent outside information from entering the military,” the source said. “The General Political Bureau has been intensifying inspections to prevent ideological laxity within the army, and the latest measure is in this direction.”
Eighth Corps soldiers and their families have been cautious about using electronic devices in their daily lives, perhaps because they have been warned that they will face severe punishment if the inspection finds evidence of illegal acts.
In fact, the Eighth Corps has severely restricted personnel from communicating with the outside world, leaving the base, or meeting with civilians on the base while the inspection is underway.
Tensions are rising throughout the military as the latest inspection is set to expand from the Eighth Corps to other units.
“The General Political Bureau has already announced that the latest measure will be carried out in the same way in other corps, so tensions within the military are continuing to rise,” the source said.
“This year, for the first time, the regular fall inspection of the Publications Censorship Department, which used to focus on corps based near Pyongyang, will be carried out over the entire military,” he said.
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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September 11, 2024 at 08:15AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)