Mick Hartley

One more sign from North Korea of the desperation of the times. Apparently the persecution of those receiving money from relatives in South Korea is so bad that many now refuse to accept it, despite their poverty:

A North Korean man recently refused to accept money sent by a relative living in South Korea, a situation that reflects a growing trend among North Koreans with family members living abroad, a Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province has reported. 

“A man in his 60s surnamed Kim who lives in Hoeryong refused to accept money that his daughter in South Korea had sent him for Lunar New Year,” the source said on Feb. 4. “The money transfer broker sought him out three times, but he never agreed to accept the money.” 

According to the source, Kim is living with his daughter’s 10-year-old son, whom she left behind in North Korea. Kim has been taking care of his grandson using the money sent by his daughter every now and then. In Oct. 2021, however, the money transfer broker was arrested by the Ministry of State Security (MSS), which led to trouble for Kim as well. 

Kim was investigated at the MSS for 15 days, and was physically and verbally abused during the process. Not only was his house searched and RMB 5,500 (around USD 864) taken, he was even sentenced to one month in a forced labor camp. 

Kim reportedly complained of the psychological distress he experienced afterwards, with informants watching his every move and tailing him everywhere he went.

After being punished, Kim refused to accept any more of his daughter’s money from the money transfer broker. Through the broker, he told her: “Don’t contact me ever again. Your son is doing well, so I have nothing more to wish for than you living a good life there [in South Korea]. Don’t ask or press me for any explanation, and please don’t send anyone to the house ever again. That’s how you can help us.”

Regarding the man’s response, the source made the following comment: “How badly did officials from the MSS threaten a defector’s relative to the point where he refuses to accept money despite his poverty, and even ask the broker to take it back?

“Everyone is living in fear, because recently, there have been several inminban [people’s unit] meetings alerting everyone that those in possession of Chinese mobile phones will be sent to re-education camps without question,” he said. 

“Even if defectors send money, their families are refusing it,” the source continued, adding, “There’s a growing number of North Koreans who would rather live in peace eating only gruel instead of having their family members overseas send money with great difficulty, only to have it stolen by the MSS and get in trouble with the law.”