According to a Daily NK source, North Korean officials promote systematic mutual surveillance as a basic social obligation. They inform residents about specific examples of “behavior contrary to the socialist lifestyle” that should be reported to the authorities. These include: living together without marriage, illegally renting real estate, using banned foreign media, especially those from South Korea, which are considered harmful to Kim Jong Un's regime.
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North Korea. Penalties and rewards for neighborhood control
An example of how the North Korean mutual surveillance machine works is the recent meeting of the Socialist Women's Union of Korea, reported by Daily NK informants. During the meeting, the following were assessed, among others: how the “neighborhood watch” operates, and specific instructions were also given on what behaviors should be the first to pay attention to.
North Korea also introduced a system of penalties and rewards for effective surveillance of its neighbors. People reporting anti-socialist behavior can receive material rewards, political positions, and the opportunity to visit Pyongyang's main attractions. In turn, anyone who witnesses violations but does not report them faces severe consequences. The penalty may be more than three months of unpaid work, re-education through forced labor or dismissal.
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According to Daily NK's source, some people are already frustrated with the need to constantly monitor and have to check on others. “People are tired of being watched by neighborhood watch leaders and state security officers. They feel tired at the thought of another year like this,” says the portal's informant.
