North Korean soldier ‘crushed to dying by superiors’ for failing to gather gas
The soldier was reportedly beaten into unconsciousness and left for dead after failing to source enough fuel, with the death shining a spotlight on corruption and bullying in the army
A North Korean solder was reportedly beaten to death by officers after failing to collect fuel and supplies. The man, who was seen as one of the hardest-working men in his unit, was subjected to continued beatings before ultimately being left in a break room to die.
The death in North Pyongan province has lifted the lid on bullying and corruption within the totalitarian state’s army, according to Daily NK. A source told the site that such beatings were most common in October and November, in the run-up to winter exercises.
The source said soldiers in the Eighth General Bureau were ordered to source food, fuel and other supplies in preparation for winter exercises.
Those who failed to source enough supplies were beaten by officers – while soldiers from wealthier backgrounds got away with worse misdemeanours such as violence against others, due to a culture of bribery.
The death of the soldier in early October came after he was repeatedly beaten for not bringing back enough fuel. He was eventually beaten into unconsciousness, and left by fellow soldiers without medical help in a break room, where he died.
The source told Daily NK: “The family of the deceased soldier were notified that he had died of an ‘acute medical condition during service’ without being told what had actually happened.
“There was an attempt in the unit to block news from getting out, but the incident was eventually reported up the chain. Since the incident involved both economic hardship and corruption in the military, it came to the attention of the Central Committee, which dispatched a joint team of prosecutors and state security officers in mid-October.”
Investigators were told by witnesses that whistle blowers would be “stigmatised as snitches and face even worse consequences”, and that “soldiers are more afraid of their superiors’ opinions than of the death of a comrade.”
The source added: “This incident makes clear how the military is permeated by bribery and a culture of violence. It was taken seriously because it occurred while the entire military is redoubling ideological training before the Ninth Party Congress.”
It is not clear whether anyone has been charged over the alleged incidents.
The news comes after a “big shot” couple who ran a bike shop in North Korea were executed – because their business was successful. The couple, in their 50s, were accused of being “arrogant” and “anti-republic”, according to reports.
The couple were officially registered with the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions in Sadong District, but were hit with a barrage of accusations from authorities, including violating the Rejection of Reactionary Thought and Culture Act, illegally moving foreign currency through an external organisation, and spreading anti-state messages, the Daily Mail reports.
They were arrested in early August and jointly interrogated before being slapped with the death penalty by the evil regime in early September. Residents were reportedly ordered to watch the execution in the Mirim area of the city.
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