Officers’ families in South Hwanghae squeezed by corn levy linked to party congress

Families of North Korean military officers stationed in South Hwanghae province have been ordered to donate corn by March 30 as part of a loyalty campaign tied to decisions from the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

A source in South Hwanghae province told Daily NK on Monday that commanding officers in a brigade with the IV Corps had been ordered to have their families donate five kilograms (11 pounds) of corn per household to aid disabled veterans.

The orders, issued March 14 by the corps’ political department, demanded that officers’ families “demonstrate their loyalty” in connection with carrying out decisions reached at the party congress.

“Officers’ family members find it hard to reject orders coming from the top when their husband’s or father’s promotion is on the line,” the source said. “Civilians often push back when military units demand they hand over rice or pork to support the troops, but officers’ families are in no position to do that. If anything, they’re under heavy pressure to comply with the orders as quickly as possible.”

Ignoring orders from above — particularly those linked to regime loyalty — can have negative repercussions in political evaluations, meaning families are strongly motivated to comply however they can.

Economic burden falls on families already squeezed by restrictions

The orders place a major financial strain on a population with few options to begin with.

“Officers’ families receive little in the way of rations. Market work and farming are some of the few ways that wives can supplement their husbands’ income, but markets are officially off limits to officers’ families. So they face a number of restrictions on their economic activities,” the source said.

Officers’ families are also expected under the supreme leader’s orders to provide grains and vegetables to the troops — part of a directive for officers to care for enlisted men like their own children. With rations already meager, the cumulative weight of donations and contributions threatens families’ basic livelihoods.

Officers’ family members face many of the same restrictions as the officers themselves and are expected to be active participants in North Korea’s mandatory social organizations. They belong to “family platoons” that require attendance at struggle sessions, study sessions, and lectures, along with mandatory community service assignments, the source said.

Despite these circumstances, military units continue pressing officers to fulfill the corn donation requirement.

“While giving the orders, corps representatives noted that the military cannot be complacent when the whole country is eager to carry out the party congress’s decisions,” the source said. “Every time such orders come down, officers’ suffering family members can do little but groan.”

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