REPUBLIC

Committing crimes in Pyongyang holds the potential for serious consequences. According to a Rimjin-gang
reporter living in Pyongyang:
There are often cases where residents are banished for next to no reason
at all. If you commit a crime, you are banished immediately. Be it a financial
crime or a political crime, in all cases you are banished. It’s much stricter than
in the regions [provinces]. So everyone is constantly careful about how they
act and what they say. And because everyone is scared of being banished, the
crime rate is lower than in the regions. The surveillance of residents is much
stricter. Being banished from Pyongyang to the regions is a major, earth-shattering
event, and signifies one’s downfall socially. 252
The regime frequently carries out initiatives to find those that can be banished from Pyongyang. 253
6.5 Public Mobilization
Demonstrations of loyalty are a constant imperative in the Pyongyang Republic. There is constant
fear of the pervasive internal security networks. People are afraid of the Party, SSD, MPS, and
KPA in that order. 254 An example of demonstrating loyalty is crying on cue to express their loyalty
to the Supreme Leader. The intent is to show trust that the Supreme Leader will solve their
problems, whether food security, healthcare shortages, or otherwise. 255 Along with the privilege
of being a Pyongyang resident comes the burden of supporting parades and ceremonies as
commonly shown on North Korean media. 256 A typical example is War Victory Day, a celebration
of North Korea’s “victory” during the Korean War celebrated on July 27. 257 Pyongyang residents
252 Gu Gwang-ho, “Living in Pyongyang - The Real Story (3), Pyongyang City Shrinking,” Rimjin-gang, August
11, 2013.
253 See discussion of Supreme Leader Directives in Chapter Eight.
254 Author’s interviews with medium mid- and high-level defectors from Pyongyang.
255 Republic of Korea Small and Medium Business Administration, “중 언론 ‘금보다 귀한 평양호구’ ” [Chinese Media: Pyongyang Citizens Regard Residence in Pyongyang as More Precious than Gold],
September 3, 2012.
256 Residents also have to complete cleaning chores on their local street and at living compounds.
These efforts are organized and supervised by the local neighborhood chief (inminbanjang), an employee of
the Party-state.
257 Author’s interview with Mr. K. Also see Lee Jung-Hyun, “북, 군‘열병식’훈련 지원에 허리 휘는 평
양 시민들” [Supporting Army Parades a Heavy Burden for Pyongyang Residents], NKRadio.org, July 25, 2013.
82
Pyongyang Republic by Robert Collins