North KoreaRecently, large-scale inspections of foreign exchange institutions in North Pyongan Province were carried out, and then shocking news came out that a female businessman suspected of illegal trade was executed by anti-aircraft guns, and her whole body was blown to pieces. According to South Korean media reports, the North Korean authorities even made the execution process public in an attempt to shock thousands of foreign exchange-related personnel and trigger extreme panic among the local people.
According to "Daily NK", this inspection operation is part of Kim Jong-un's policy of strengthening the control of trade and economic activities since the epidemic. North Korean officials claim that this move is aimed at preventing hostile forces, including South Korea, from penetrating North Korea through trade, and strictly prohibits transactions involving South Korean goods. According to the news, the female businessman was executed by extreme means after being arrested for being involved in illegal trade activities. The North Korean authorities even summoned a large number of foreign exchange-related personnel to publicly detail the execution details to form a high-pressure deterrent.
This inspection action put great pressure on foreign exchange-related personnel. North Korean residents have long been underpaid and have relied on unapproved trade subsidies. These behaviors are regarded as "embezzling state property" during inspections. In addition, the use of mobile phones of Chinese telecommunications companies to make calls by some trade-related personnel in border areas is also considered illegal by North Korea and severely punished.
Although there was widespread dissatisfaction with this inspection within foreign exchange institutions, relevant personnel did not dare to discuss it publicly. A source revealed privately, "The government requires us to fully comply with the regulations while completing the goals, but this is almost impossible in actual implementation." At present, inspection operations are still ongoing.
