Letter from a High-Level North Korean Dissenter?

That’s the claim about the letter I print below, via Suzanne Scholte (scroll down) of the Defense Forum Foundation. It requires no explanation, only the obvious caveats that (1) there’s simply no way to verify the source, (2) that this could very easily be something other than what it purports to be, and (3) the contents of the letter clearly serve the interests of those (like myself) who seek to destroy the North Korean one-party regime through increased economic pressure and political subversion.

If authentic, the letter raises one more great barrier to the economic and social reunification of the Koreas–North Koreans’ well-justified resentment that South Koreans are helping to prolong their suffering and enslavement.

Dear Friends:

We were able to obtain a copy of the original hand written letter that was sent by fax by a high ranking North Korean government official when he was visiting China to South Korea’s largest newspaper, Chosun Ilbo.

I am pleased to share with you the translation that DFF’s special assistant, Mary Gohng, did of the letter that was published in the Chosun Ilbo on December 29, 2004. It is consistent with everything we have heard from defectors and recent refugees about the situation inside North Korea. Suzanne

I currently work for one of the North Korea’s key [government] institutes. I apologize that I am not able to reveal the details of my identity, and I hope you understand that this is necessary in order to protect myself. I am now writing this letter despite the danger because South Korean government’s pathetic policy toward North Korea enraged me, and I felt that I must speak out for the future of Koreans.

As the rest of the world is well-aware, 3 million people starved to death and 1.2 million were left wandering about the country during so called, “the Stride in Suffering,” between 1995 and 1998. As a result, North Koreans have turned away from Kim Jung Il, and no one has even the slightest lingering attachment left for him. The only thing remaining is a deep root of hatred toward him.

Although I cannot disclose the details, I can assure you that a large number of anti-governmental forces exist within North Korea. A growing number of the elites are lying low waiting for the right time to come so that they can punish Kim Jung Il, the traitor of the Korean people. Others who share their views are also coming together for the same goal.

In 1990, we had an excellent opportunity to overthrow Kim Jung Il when “the Stride in Suffering” began. Kim Jung Il was using extreme measures to suppress the citizens in order to sustain his control over the country causing utter confusion. He used the military to recklessly kill the innocent and put them in political prisoner camps. It is true in any history that the louder the citizens complain, the stronger the rebellious sprit grows. During “the Stride in Suffering” North Korea was in such chaos that every aspect of the country, including the politics, economy, and national security, broke down beyond a manageable realm, and many North Koreans left the country for China.

What we really wanted during this time was that more North Koreans would leave for China so that that the international community would really pin down Kim Jung Il. If so, I believe even the cruelest Kim Jung Il would not have been able to withstand the pressure.

However, South Korea and the international community supported North Korea, and the severe suffering started again for the anti-governmental forces in North Korea. North Korean defectors in China were repatriated and lost their lives in prisons or at open executions. It makes my blood boil to think about all the North Korean defectors who were dragged back to North Korea and had to face such miserable deaths. To make the situation worse, South Korea began its mission to save Kim Jung Il as if they were indebted to him.

I have enough information to describe in detail about how the U.S. dollars and humanitarian relief goods were distributed, but I do not feel the need to do so. However, I would like to reemphasize the obvious fact that Kim Jung Il’s government has no interest in the welfare of its citizens whatsoever. Kim Jung Il wasted away the relief aids from other countries for the purpose of maintaining his power and never used it for our citizens.

It appears that there is a movement within South Korea that attempts to beautify Kim Jung Il suggesting that he has made some positive changes. This is why I need to explain what happened in North Korea after “the Stride in Suffering.”

The Economy Management Reform directives which came out in July, 2002 did nothing but to transfer the responsibilities of the government to the individuals. The actual market prices replaced the government distribution system which was useless and existed in name only. Businesses need a certain amount of freedom of discretion, which is not allowed in North Korea, and that is why there is no such thing as private business in North Korea. Some people manage to obtain the government’s permission to do business at public facilities and earn between 1 won and 3 won ($15 ~ $45) a month. The majority of the workers who cannot afford the bribery money to obtain the permission have no other choice but to continue to work under strict government control without being paid properly.

Recently South Korean soap operas became popular in North Korea, and this triggered the house-searching frenzy by the government and tighter control measures on commuting routes.
There were some raised expectations that private farms might be allowed, but it has fallen through. Another rumor suggested that the Agricultural Cooperative Association will distribute the land to institutions and businesses, but nothing has been done so far. Individuals are allowed to farm small tracks of land up to 300 pyung (1 pyung = about 4 square yards). These tracks are prepared by the individuals through forest clearing. Any piece of land that is larger than 300 pyung is controlled by the government.

Despite the government’s restrictions, there are those who fight for more land in desperation. They manage to farm on lands as large as few thousand pyungs, but after paying the taxes for using the land there is hardly anything left, and the bitterness is growing fast amongst the farmers. Nonetheless, people who are able to farm any type of land are better off than others since they can at least gather something to eat.

After giving up their crops for the mandatory contribution to the military and government officers, there is nothing left for the farmers. They are often forced to seek other means for survival, and end up stealing from their neighbors. Everyone has turned into a thief, and they steal from one another.

Every fall, the farmers in North Korea are left only with empty ears of corn. I heard the harvest in Hwang Hae province is better this year, but there is also a report that the mandatory contributions to the military will increase. The farmers are already furious about this.

The situation is not better for the military. The lack of food in North Korea is so serious that even the military is suffering. People call the military “pest forces,” the gangsters,” “thieves’ military” and “punitive forces” (this word originated from the Japanese punitive forces that oppressed Koreans during the Japanese occupation). They also call it “malnutrition forces” because of the widespread severe malnutrition in the military. Soldiers attack private homes and assault civilians every day. The public resentment toward the military is stronger than ever. Moreover, the morale within the military is on the brink of a collapse.

As a hopelessly corrupted country, North Korea is accelerating toward its final destruction. Kim Jung Il’s cruelty has worsened in desperation to preserve his power. Torture and executions became more and more common. He strengthened the punishment for those who flee the country, but he is careful about the public because of the pressure from the international community.

High-ranking officials in North Korea are well aware of what is going on in South Korea since North Koreans’ interest in information from the outside world has grown dramatically. These days, not only the high-ranking officers but also the mid-ranking officials and young people in North Korea listen to Radio Free Asia and gain information. We know who is helping Kim Jung Il and who is working hard for the freedom and human rights of North Koreans.

I hope to see more North Koreans cross the border to China in protest against Kim Jung Il, but sadly they have known for a while that China and South Korea are indifferent about rescuing them, giving them the cold shoulder. North Koreans are trapped within their own country waiting to die either by starvation or torture.
The anti-government forces and the North Korean officers who share the same goal are extremely unhappy with South Korea’s policy toward North Korea, and the hatred against the South Korean government is growing.

Kim Jung Il is cornered and has nowhere to go. I am certain that no one in North Korea is even remotely fond of him in any way. I think his luck is running out even though he frantically tries to oppress the citizens with military forces, scaring them with guns and knives. The soldiers can see that their families are starving to death. If a soldier who has a head on his soldier, how could he possibly perceive all this as normal? I think I have said enough to help you realize what is necessary in order to tear down Kim Jung Il’s regime and liberate North Koreans who trust you as brothers and sisters in the worst of times as these.

Kae Sung Industrial District is nothing but a channel to bring in foreign currency for Kim Jung Il, who is constantly running out of money. This is also true about the Keum Kang Mountain Tour project. Kim Jung Il needs South Korea’s money, and the success of the relationship between North and South will depend on how much money he gets. In other words, it will depend on how satisfied “Our General” is. The more money he gets, the better the North-South relations will be, and vice versa. Note that this is not about the relationship between North Korea and South Korea, but rather the relationship between Kim Jung Il and South Korea.

There is no other way to save North Koreans from their misery without pressuring Kim Jung Il to the point of suffocation. We need to cut off the financial support in order to dismantle the Liberation Army and weaken North Korea’s intelligence agency. If the U.S., Japan and South Korea gather their resources to pressure Kim Jung Il, he will have to choose between the collapse and the reformation, that is to open up. I plead with you again to consider the anguish of North Korean who live like slaves. Someday, the just judgment of North Koreans will be against those who help Kim Jung Il.

Thank you.
Kim Sung Kil (pseudonym)