North Korea Orders Spiked Clubs for Homes; Residents Baffled by Inspections in South Korea

The inspections, which began after a late July meeting, have drawn sarcastic reactions from locals who question why they need such weapons. According to a Daily NK source in North Hamgyong Province on August 12, a people's unit meeting was held in Chongjin on July 31, where each household was instructed to prepare a spiked club as part of their emergency supplies. Since then, in the Songpyong District of Chongjin, people's unit leaders and local safety officers have been going door-to-door to inspect households' emergency preparedness.

The inspections focus on whether each household has an emergency contact network and has prepared items including spiked clubs and bags of red pepper powder. The pepper powder is intended for self-defense, to be thrown in an attacker's eyes during emergencies.