Mick Hartley

From the latest in the Daily NK's series of interviews with North Korean citizens (previously here and here). This one's with Oh Gil Tae, a 33-year-old male border guard:

– How do you handle those who are caught?

If low-level soldiers catch a river-crosser, they must be escorted to the guard post. If the commander or political commissar is present then the prisoner is subjected to preliminary investigation. If these figures are not present, the next in command will conduct the investigation. Most basic searches consist of questions like name, age, reason for attempting to cross, are you hiding anything on your person etc. 

When the first round of preliminary investigation is over, the detainee is escorted back and left in the washing facilities or shower room. When we are told to transfer the prisoner to commanding officers, we do so immediately.

– Is the offender beaten?

Beaten heavily. First, they are forced to kneel and they are hit in the face. From the off, female prisoners are usually very scared and their fear… you can see urine on their clothes. They are so scared. It’s from the beginning; their heads are stamped on to make them scared.

During the investigation process, if a lie is so much as felt by the investigator, the prisoner is hit hard across the face. The 1958 automatic rifle does not break easily but the ’68 version does, the butt of the rifle snaps off completely. They are hit that hard. And that’s not all. People cower because they are being dealt with inhumanely. 

– Are the National Security Agency people the most vicious?

The National Security Agency is not the most vicious; it depends on the individual. There are many really cruel guys amongst captains and commanders. Maybe they are trained for it, I don’t know, but National Security Agents use their voices instead of their fists. Spending a few years in the army will bring out the cruel side in all people.  […]

– The army’s use of pretty bad behavior with civilians is widely documented…

In North Korea, when you wear the military uniform, you are wearing the skin of a tiger. You should make the people scared. 

If you want to build a farm, you must ask to borrow the shovel and things that you need from a neighboring house. But if the lender is not there, and you see those things, you have to take them anyway because there is no choice. They can’t say anything, and they cannot tell us to return the things.

If you want to take their livestock you have to threaten them, of course. If the owner tries to come out, we block his door with a shovel and shout. We say we’ll only take one. While they are trembling, they say nothing. 

They often talk about relations with local people, so we have to be careful, but nevertheless soldiers can basically do what they like.