"Family Who Criticized Kim Yo-jong Saying 'I Hate Seeing Women Run Amok' Goes Missing"

Neighbor Eavesdropping Reports to Bowibu
Haeju Bowibu Plans to Strengthen Resident Surveillance

Two North Korean residents who criticized Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Department Director of the Workers' Party and younger sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, were arrested, and their families have gone missing. On the 4th, Daily NK, a North Korea-focused media outlet, reported citing sources from Hwanghae-namdo that two residents living in Haeju City were arrested by the State Security Department in mid-last month after making critical remarks about Kim Yo-jong's statement regarding the Pyongyang drone incident. The two arrested residents were reportedly close enough to openly criticize the North Korean authorities. The day before their arrest, they were secretly sharing criticisms of Kim Yo-jong and the authorities, but another resident overheard their conversation and reported them to the State Security Department, leading to their capture.

Earlier, North Korea claimed in a "major statement" announced on the 11th of last month that South Korea had infiltrated unmanned aerial vehicles into Pyongyang three times to distribute leaflets against the North. Subsequently, Kim Yo-jong asserted that the South Korean military was the main culprit but did not disclose any related evidence. Additionally, on the 22nd of last month, Kim Yo-jong threatened South Korea and Ukraine, calling them "crazy people" and "insane people."
[Photo by Asia Economy]

The two made disparaging remarks about Kim Yo-jong, who is at the forefront of issuing anti-South Korea statements, such as "It’s disgusting to see a woman in a skirt acting so wildly," "What does a woman know to come out and make a fuss?" and "The people are living so hard; shouldn’t the country’s economic situation be properly managed behind the scenes?" They also expressed concerns about the recent tensions between the North and South, reportedly saying, "If this country is to collapse quickly, a war must break out. If war happens, everyone will flee to South Korea or China."

They continued with political remarks regarding the North Korean authorities' removal of the concepts of 'unification' and 'nation,' saying, "All our residents aim for unification, but today’s state no longer desires unification, so it remains a half-state, and our hopes have disappeared." A source said, "The neighborhood residents were shocked by the sudden disappearance of the two families overnight and are still anxious," adding, "Especially those who were close to these two families are worried that the repercussions might affect them as well," the media outlet reported.

In Haeju City, which borders South Korea, such arrests of residents reportedly occur frequently. A source said, "Haeju has long been considered a place where residents are quite aware," and added, "Recently, another resident of Haeju was taken by the State Security Department after criticizing the state while drinking privately." The source explained that the Haeju State Security Department has established a policy to increase informants and strengthen surveillance of residents.

Earlier, North Korea claimed in a 'serious statement' released on the 11th of last month that South Korea infiltrated drones into Pyongyang three times to distribute anti-North leaflets. Subsequently, Kim Yo-jong accused the South Korean military of being the main culprit but did not disclose related evidence. On the 22nd of last month, Kim Yo-jong threatened South Korea and Ukraine, calling them "crazy" and "insane." In a statement released on the 28th, she reacted irritably after imagining a situation where drones were dropping leaflets in Seoul, saying, "I want to see just once how the wild dogs of Seoul foam at the mouth and bark."