Panic in North Korea as new crackdown launched to stop locals fleeing to China

has launched ideological lectures for young workers currently building large-scale greenhouse farms near Sinuiju and Uiju in North Pyongan province near the border with . The measure appears to be an attempt to prevent the workers from developing admiration for capitalism or attempting defection, has reported.

Lectures "were held in late April based on material sent by the Central Committee's Propaganda and Agitation Department to the political units of shock brigades participating in the large-scale greenhouse farm construction," a source told the news site. The lecture was titled "Let's Preserve Our Pride as the Strong and Open the Path to National Revival with Our Own Strength". The lecture materials included messages such as: "Don't be deceived by the bright lights of China across the Yalu River or capitalist scenery".

Another message was that " must never trust in others' power," while "the path of self-reliance and prosperity through one's own technology is the true path to revival."

"Rather than envying others, we must create our own things with our own strength," read a third message.

The source revealed these instructions were "intended to raise ideological awareness among youth brigade members working at greenhouse construction sites on the border facing China".

The construction site directly faces China across the Yalu River. Sinuiju and Uiju lie close to the Chinese city of Dangong, in the southeastern Liaoning province.

The authorities' move suggests they are highly concerned about ideological laxity among North Korean youth. The lectures lasted around 45 minutes, followed by discussion sessions in which groups of 10 confessed their mistakes and renewed their commitment.

"The purpose of these lectures, as himself emphasised, is to provide an opportunity for youth who will shoulder the future of our revolution to arm themselves with the party's revolutionary ideology," the source said.

"The lectures consistently emphasised that youth should not be deceived by capitalist illusions, but believe in their own strength 24 hours a day, create something from nothing, love themselves and their collective, love the state, and consider national revival honourable."

Political officials leading the lectures have stressed that this is "an important national project to cultivate mobilised youth brigade members as future cadre reserves and main forces". They stressed that "ideological fortification of brigade members is more important than construction results."

The lectures also harshly condemn the young people from expressing an interest in China. Political officers are said to have disciplined several young workers for admiring China's apparent abundance of electricity and impressive skyline.

"The government is concerned that brigade members mobilised from across the country might develop illusions about China's bright lights or become ideologically corrupted and attempt to defect," the source said. "These lectures were organised as a shield to prevent such problems in advance."