North Korean Gold Refinery Faces Scandal Over Bribes and Illegal Siphoning
In a shocking revelation, sources from inside North Korea have disclosed a scandal involving bribes and illegal siphoning at the country’s prominent gold refinery. The Jongju refinery, located in North Pyongan province, has allegedly become the epicenter of illicit activities, with workers resorting to bribery and theft to earn extra money due to the nation’s cash-strapped economy under international sanctions.
The highly sought-after position of an assayer at the Jongju refinery has become a lucrative opportunity for North Koreans. Assayers, responsible for testing the purity of metals, have discovered that by paying substantial bribes to supervisors, they can not only secure this coveted role but also engage in illegal activities to supplement their income. The refinery, known for smelting lead, zinc, and gold, has become a hub for such malpractices.
Securing a job as an assayer at the Jongju refinery is no easy feat, as the position offers significantly higher earnings compared to North Korean workers dispatched to Russia for three years to earn foreign currency for the Pyongyang regime. An anonymous source revealed that the allure of higher incomes has compelled these workers to engage in bribery and theft.
The process involves assayers determining the weight of gold ore in extracted and mostly purified metals. These figures are recorded before the gold is sent to the Jongju refinery for processing. However, if mine supervisors have an informal arrangement with the assayers, the recorded figures will be lower than the actual weight of the transported metals, indicating that some metals are being siphoned off for illegal sale.
The stolen metals, including lead, zinc, and gold, are reportedly sold to donju, entrepreneurs involved in smuggling and a variety of businesses, including retail. It is believed that these entrepreneurs find tremendous profit potential by smuggling the metals into the Chinese market. With the recent announcement of the resumption of land-border trade between North Korea’s Sinuiju and China’s Dandong, demand for the metals is expected to surge even higher.
To secure employment as a measuring worker at the Jongju refinery, workers must bribe the officials of the leadership department at the refinery with U.S dollars, which are hard to come by in North Korea but not impossible to obtain. The bribes, ranging from cash to clothing and appliances, establish a close relationship and increase the chances of securing the highly sought-after position.
This scandal reveals the dire economic situation faced by North Koreans and sheds light on the black market activities thriving in the country. It is clear that as long as international sanctions persist, individuals within North Korea will continue to resort to illegal means to make ends meet and provide for their families.
The logistics of this scandal are a cause for concern. It is imperative that the North Korean authorities take immediate action to address the bribery and illegal siphoning at the Jongju refinery. Such activities not only undermine the integrity of the gold industry but also contribute to the perpetuation of corruption within the country.
As the world watches these revelations unfold, it is expected that international pressure will mount on North Korea. The global community must remain vigilant in combating illegal activities that further destabilize an already fragile situation. Until the North Korean government takes decisive action to tackle corruption and improve its economy, scandals like this will continue to plague the country.
