Gov't keeping close tabs on N. Korea following reports of public unrest

SEOUL, Dec. 5 (Yonhap) -- The government is keeping close tabs on North Korea
following media reports that the sudden currency revaluation has sparked public
unrest in the communist country, an official source said Saturday.

The source, who declined to be identified, said that various channels are being
used to check what is taking place in the communist country.
"At present there is a limit to what kind of information can be collected," the
official said without going into details.
Both local and foreign media reported that the North Korean military has been put
on heightened alert to guard against possible unrest as the revaluation measure
effectively caused many people to see their savings wiped out in a single stroke.
Reports said shops have been closed as the country switches to a new currency.
There have also been reports of curfew being imposed in some border regions, as
Pyongyang gave people a week to change their old money for the new currency.
Under the revaluation, an old 100 won can be changed for one new won.
North Korea implemented a total of five currency revaluations to meet economic,
social and political changes.
The government, meanwhile, said that the currency revaluation is a significant
move and could have an impact on inter-Korean trade relations.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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