The three masked bandits descended upon the armored automobile, overpowered the 2 troopers on guard responsibility, seized 200 kilograms of gold bars price U.S.$12 million and rode off into the North Korean countryside, sources contained in the nation mentioned.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in Sinuiju, Hyesan, and different border cities as they searched desperately for the robbers and their loot, sources residing close to the cities instructed Radio Free Asia’s Korean Service on situation of anonymity for safety causes.
The border cities are on excessive alert as a result of there isn’t a marketplace for gold in North Korea. The 200-kilogram jackpot is basically nugatory except it may be smuggled to consumers in China.
The mid-November theft occurred when an armored automobile carrying the gold was stopped on the facet of the street alongside Route 1 on its option to the capital Pyongyang from Sinuiju, the sources mentioned.
“There have been two totally armed troopers driving within the armored automobile, however judging from how rapidly the robbers have been capable of subdue them, it looks as if that they had particular navy coaching,” the supply residing close to Sinuiju mentioned. “The armed troopers have been helpless in that scenario.”
Authorities put all former particular forces troopers in North Pyongan province on the record of suspects, and interrogated each, asking what they have been doing on the day of the theft, however they’re nonetheless in search of the robbers, the supply mentioned.
“The border metropolis of Hyesan is in a state of emergency with investigators from the Ministry of State Safety, the Ministry of Social Safety, and troopers Border Patrol Headquarters far and wide,” a resident of Hyesan’s surrounding Ryanggang province instructed RFA.
The town is awash with flyers saying residents should instantly report back to authorities if they’ve any gold, or if they think anybody else to be a gold smuggler, in response to the second supply.
North Korea produces between two and 4 metric tons of gold per 12 months, in response to each sources. most of it’s despatched to Workplace 39, the group charged with procuring slush funds for the nation’s chief Kim Jong Un and his household. The remainder goes to North Korea’s central financial institution.
North Korea’s principal gold manufacturing amenities are the Jongju and Unjon refineries, each in North Pyongan. There are others in Ryanggang and South Hwanghae provinces.
Nonetheless, many individuals secretly regard the bandits as heroes as a result of they see the federal government as hoarding the gold as an alternative of utilizing it to assist the folks, who’re struggling to make ends meet in an financial system nonetheless reeling from worldwide nuclear sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, the second supply mentioned.
“The residents giggle on the authorities and cheer that somebody risked their lives to raid the gold truck and acquired away with it.”
Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
