By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea is tightening surveillance of its soldiers to prevent them from fleeing to the South in the lead-up to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to sources familiar with Pyongyang.
The measure comes as all eyes focus on the Korean Peninsula before the Olympics, and defections by North Korean soldiers, the regime fears, could further raise awareness of instability in the North.
The measure also reveals the repressive state's jitters over the possible agitation among its soldiers following the recent mutual visits of the two Koreas' delegations in preparation for the Winter Games, the sources said.
The visits included South Korean skiers' joint training with North Korean athletes last week at the Masikryong Ski Resort in (North) Gangwon Province, where several North Korean border units are stationed.
"The North's Ministry of People's Armed Forces issued an order to all units in Gangwon Province on Jan. 20 to be careful about deserters and make full-fledged efforts to manage their soldiers," a source said last week.
The source said the ministry especially ordered Army, Navy and Air Force units in the border areas of Pyonggang, Kimhwa, Changdo and Kumgang to double the number of guards who work closely with one other.
The North has also been tightening surveillance of its fishermen to ensure they do not cross the maritime border and escape to the South. In a letter issued Jan. 18, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered the relevant ministries to double check when authorizing fishing boats to leave port and to oversee their activities, according to the sources.
"The order aims to block its people from using fishing boasts for defection," another source said.
The Kim regime is expected to launch a crackdown on officials who take bribes in return for allowing unauthorized people to go to sea.
"The country threatened to punish those who are making the illicit ideals and vowed to root out such acts," a third source said.
