Recently, it has been reported that North Korea’s demand for remittances from North Korean defectors has doubled ahead of Chuseok. However, due to the strengthened changes to the business trip (travel) certificate issuance system, it has been found that there are significant difficulties in delivering money to North Korean defector families. [This is an English test]
According to a Ryanggang Province source in the NK Times on the 26th, demand for remittances from North Korean defectors living in China and South Korea to their families has recently doubled in Hyesan City ahead of the Chuseok holiday.
However, following the security authorities’ intensive control and crackdown on remittance brokers, and the recent change and strengthening of the business trip certificate issuance process, it is said that it is not easy to deliver money to North Korean defector families living in areas other than Hyesan City.
In addition, it is known that large remittance brokers, known as big players, are experiencing great difficulties in distributing foreign currency as a series of recent arrests have been made by the National Security Agency.
Because of this situation, the commission for remittances sent by North Korean defectors to their families during Chuseok rises by up to 60%, and even this is unthinkable in other regions except Hyesan, the source said.
Previously, on the 25th, this newspaper reported that North Korea had recently changed its business trip (travel) certificate issuance system and was severely restricting the movement of its residents. (▲ North Korea changes the business trip certificate issuance process again… “Significantly reduced business trip purposes to 10-3”)
The source said, “It is not easy for remittance brokers to obtain a business trip certificate in order to deliver money to the families of North Korean defectors, but even if they go to another region, they must receive a check (signed) from the local community leader and the security officer in charge before returning,” adding, “Sometimes, money is sent without a pass.” He mentioned, “If you try to deliver money and get caught by the Ministry of Security or Security, you end up spending more money than you earn, so they are reluctant to deliver money outside the city limits.”
It is known that this situation is also the same in the border area of North Hamgyong Province.
A source from North Hamgyong Province told the NK Times on the 26th, “Ahead of Chuseok, the amount of money North Korean defectors are sending to their families has increased significantly. However, as crackdowns and punishments by the National Security Agency and the Ministry of Safety and Security have strengthened, they are not going to areas other than downtown.”
The source said, “With the recent change in the business trip (travel) certificate issuance system, it is not easy to go out to other regions,” adding, “Therefore, we are only delivering money to people living in Hoeryeong City.”
At the same time, he said, “North Korean defectors are well aware of the situation here (North Korea), so they are working hard to send money to their families for Chuseok.” “We don’t want to deliver money to outlying areas because we will be deported,” he said.
In addition, the source said, “The authorities say they are carrying out policies to improve the lives of the people, but if you actually dig into it, it is nothing other than scaring the residents.” He added, “In fact, if the authorities are unable to supply holiday supplies this Chuseok, they will do their best to spend money. He pointed out, “Shouldn’t we prepare a proper ancestral rite table for our ancestors?”
***This article is a translation based on ChatGPT, so it may not match our NK Times Korean content.