Daily NK recently obtained the full text of the Self-Defense Security Act adopted by the North Korean authorities in 2022. The purpose of the bill is to protect the lives and property of the people, but the actual purpose is understood to be to increase the intensity of mutual surveillance between residents, prevent crimes such as property theft, and prevent defections from North Korea or use of external information in advance.
North Korean authorities adopted the Self-Defense Security Act, which consists of a total of 4 chapters and 46 articles, at the 21st plenary session of the 14th Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly on August 7, 2022.
Chapter 1, Article 2 of the Act contains the definition of the Self-Defense Security Act, which states, “Self-defense security is a business in which citizens protect the streets, villages, and workplaces where they live and work from the encroachments of all kinds of enemies and subversive elements with their own power.” It is revealing.
‘All kinds of enemies’ and ‘impure elements’ are interpreted as expressions that include forces related to hostile countries such as South Korea and the United States, those who attempt to defect from North Korea, and those who engage in acts that North Korea defines as reactionary, such as inflow of external information.
In fact, in December 2022, when the law was enacted, the North Korean Ministry of Security held a struggle meeting to emphasize compliance with the Self-Defense Security Act by placing a female resident who attempted to escape North Korea by crossing the Duman River at night in Hoeryeong, Hamgyeongbuk-do, on a stage of public criticism. (Go to related article: Openly criticizing residents who attempted to defect from North Korea and pointing out problems with enforcement of the ‘Self-Defense Security Act’)
At this meeting, the head of the Hoeryeong City Security Department said that the reason this woman was able to attempt to escape from North Korea was because the People’s Unit violated the Self-Defense Security Act and did not go out on patrol, and warned, “Do you now understand why the country enacted the Self-Defense Security Act and why it needs to be strengthened?” They criticized the residents for neglecting self-defense security and held them responsible for their attempt to defect from North Korea.
In this way, the Self-Defense Security Act is interpreted as focusing on strengthening the mutual surveillance system between residents in people’s units and workplaces and preventing residents from engaging in ideological deviation.
What stands out is the part that regulates the control of outsiders entering the People’s Unit.
Article 16 of the Act states, “Inminban shall keep a foreigner reception register at the guard post and accurately record the identity and time of the person visiting, the household they came to and the time of their return, and those whose identity cannot be confirmed must be confirmed through the security officer in charge. ”, “Residents must notify the Inminban guard post if they plan to vacate their homes.”
In 2022, when the law was enacted, the movement of residents between regions was controlled to prevent COVID-19 infection, and North Korean authorities appear to have further strengthened surveillance of residents’ households in the name of blocking the virus.
In addition, Article 22 of the Act states, “Guards shall not drink alcohol before or during the course of duty, engage in entertainment such as chess while performing duty, read a book, watch a movie or music on a mobile phone, sleep, or leave the guard post. “You cannot engage in any behavior that interferes with the performance of security duties,” it said.
They were wary of the possibility of deviant behavior when there was no one on guard at night.
In particular, North Korea stipulates in detail fines and administrative and legal punishments for those who violate various self-defense security rules in Articles 44, 45, and 46 of the law.
Regarding this, Hwang Hyeon-wook, a senior researcher at the Daily NK AND Center, said, “The original purpose of the self-defense security law is to allow residents to voluntarily engage in security activities, but in order to make the self-defense security system a national obligation, it specifies not only fines but also criminal punishment.” “This ultimately shows that residents are being mandatorily mobilized for security in order to maintain the system,” he analyzed.
At the same time, Senior Researcher Hwang said, “On the surface, it is stated that the purpose is to protect the property and lives of residents, but in the end, it appears that the ultimate goal is to protect the socialist system.” “The basis has been established,” he interpreted.
Source: www.dailynk.com
