North Korean authorities, led by the Security Command of the People's Armed Forces, are learned to have been conducting a "100-day combat" since May 1 with the purported aim of strengthening the regime. According to Korean-Chinese who frequent North Korea, the ongoing "combat" is focused on preventing people from taking flight from the country by drastically reinforcing border controls, eliminating capitalistic elements in society and cracking down on corrupt leading party and administration officials.

Inspections and surprise raids in cities and towns bordering with China and ports from which suspected escapee-carrying boats depart have been reinforced, citizens engaging in commerce while not reporting to workplaces have been cracked down on intensively, and quite a few bribe-receiving people's security (police) officers have been dismissed. The recent Chinese security authorities' aggressive detention and deportation of North Korean escapees in China may well be linked with the current North Korean campaign aimed at strengthening the system, according to ethnic Koreans residing in northeastern China.

The 100-day combat was kicked off on May 1 when an inspection team of the Security Command raided a few state institutions in Hyesan, a border city of Yanggang province. Facing Changbai in northeastern China, Hyesan is very active in transactions with China and is considered to be one of the most "problematic" cities in the North. Among the institutions raided by the inspection team was the local Ministry of the People's Security (police) Office, a target of public grievance. Subjected to the crackdown were people who accumulated wealth through trade with China, who spent lots of money, who are engaged in contraband smuggling, or who have been absent from their office without permission for a prolonged period of time.

In June Shinuiju came under an intensive crackdown by an inspection team. Border guard activities have been intensified at such border towns as Onsong, Hyoeryog, Musan and Manpo through which many North Koreans escape to China. In Namyang, a border town facing Tuman of China, two to three companies have reinforced security forces. In addition, discharged servicemen and young people who aspire to gain Workers' Party membership have been mobilized to help enforce 24-hour surveillance. The latter group form the second and third lines of security behind the main line manned by servicemen, and check strangers. Those who render outstanding services in their duties are accorded the privilege of becoming Workers' Party members.

The Security Command is exerting itself to establish discipline at the border outposts of the State Security Agency and the Ministry of People's Security, in the course of which a major reshuffle of personnel is under way. In addition to preventing citizens' fleeing into China, the North's law enforcement authorities are learned to have reinforced their cooperation with Chinese security authorities in having North Korean escapees sent back to the North.

People making fortunes, taking advantage of crumbling social discipline as a fallout of foreign exchange earning activities and consequent contacts with foreigners, spring up in the North like so many mushrooms after rain. The North Korean authorities agonize over the phenomenon of the rich becoming richer and the poor getting poorer. The current "combat" appears to be aimed at rooting out capitalist elements sprouting in the North as well as blocking the exodus of North Koreans, observe sources.

North Korea carries out a few campaigns every year, dubbed "70-day combats" or "100-day combats." They aim mainly at boosting productivity at production sites or carrying out cleanup drives preceding major political events. However, the ongoing "100-day combat," seems designed to strengthen the system in general and differs in nature from ordinary campaigns, according to sources.

(Kang Chol Hwan, nkch@chosun.com )