Good Friends USA

Saturday, June 26, 2010

North Korea Today No. 342 June 2010

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Central Party Instructs, “Party officials are to give up some food for the laborers”
Until last May, it was reported that provincial party officials took the initiative and contributed food and money to alleviate the food shortage problem. According to a source in Pyongyang, since last February, the Central Party instructed that party officials in each province, city, and county as well as law enforcement officials in each public prosecutors office, security department, and police station must contribute food and money in order to alleviate the food shortages of the laborers. As a result, officials contributed corn or cash once a month since last March; 140kg per person allocated to prosecutors, 110-140kg to city officials, 70-100kg to county officials, and 200kg to provincial and security department officials. An official of Pyongsung City, South Pyongan Province reported that the reduction in death toll by starvation in March after the rise in prevalence of death by starvation in February was because of this reason. However, he also reported that they find it difficult to explore the source of food and thus food could not be purchased even with money. An official of Pyongyang expressed concern that “the Prime Minister Young Il Kim asked for three months (to solve the food problem) but the time is up. Now is the beginning of the most busy season (June, July, and August), and if we still cannot secure food in June, we may have a serious national crisis of death by starvation.” Similar concern was raised at a provincial officials’ conference of North Hamgyong Province; since Chairman Kim Jung Il’s visit to China, they are anxiously waiting for news of China’s food aid.

Shinpo City Collects Food from Primary Officials to Distribute to Farmers
At farms in Shinpo City, South Hamgyong Province, it was reported that farm officials contributed food to prepare for the food distribution when starving farmers did not come to work. Now is the busiest season to work on a farm, but there are about 9-10 families of starved farmers that do not come to work in each work unit in a cooperative farm at Yanghwa-ri. Students and residents are helping during the farming mobilization period, but considerable setback in farming is inevitable because many professional farmers are not coming to work. As a result, Shinpo City Party and the Farming Management Committee instructed to the officials in a collective farm at Yanghwa-ri and other similarly situated cooperative farms in the city that they need to at least temporarily support the minimum living conditions for the families of starved farmers that do not come to work. In response, each village party secretary and the farming management committee chairperson delivered the message to the primary officials and instructed them that each person must contribute at least 15kg of corn.

Field Officials Struggle with Orders from Department of Agriculture, "Supply irrigation water to rice field"
An order was delivered nationwide that directs to thoroughly prepare for the spring farming season to ensure proper rice seedling and ample water supply for the rice seeding bed. The instructions included maintenance of water pumps in case of power shortages and repair of broken pumps that are necessary for continual water supply for the rice seeding beds. On May 2nd, the Department of Agriculture issued these instructions to each of the province offices, who in turn relayed the instructions to the corresponding cities and counties the following afternoon. Technical advisors and the leaders of each working unit held a teleconference to enforce these commands and stimulate the farm management officials. The farm workers, however, began to complain of farming difficulties. Rice often dried up and withered, and even deid from an illness borne in the farms due to problems with water pumping facilities and electric power shortages in the farms of Baechun County, Yeonan County, and Taetan County in South Hwanghae Province and Wonsan in Kangwon Province.
In Sinryung-ri, Nampo City in South Pyongan Province, the farm was unable to provide water to the crops because of broken water pumps as well as power shortages. Most of the rice plants dried up and died from an illness, and the situation was worst in work unit numbers 3, 4, and 7. The farmers tried hard to save them, but they ended up throwing the withered rice plants out. As this depletion of rice plants spread nationwide, the Department of Agriculture criticized the manager officials in charge of the respective farms and warned that officials who failed to properly manage their famrs would be legally accused of ‘acting against the agricultural revolution policy.' The farm manager workers were stunned by the criticisms and fell into despair as they could not find a solution to the problems.

Corn Farming in North Hamgyong Province Troubled due to Unusually Cold Weather
Big concern has emerged at local collective farms and small-area-farming due to cloudy and rainy weather of mid-May. North Hamgyong Province, well-known for its cold weather, has been especially cold this year and the sunshine has been very little. Many of corn seeds failed to sprout or rot under the ground, so farmers are very disappointed saying, “There’s no need to wait for the harvest.” Due to this fact, the demand for ‘Hwa Sung no.1,’ which is a seed known for its durability in the cold, has increased sharply along with its price. Farmers, who work on a small plot focusing on securing the seeds, are even paying 7kg of corns to 1kg of ‘Hwa Sung no.1’ seeds. Farmers who obtained the ‘Hwa Sung no.1’ seeds are busy sowing them again.

Women Angered by Starvation, “How can I go for farming mobilization without eating…?”
It is busy time of farming mobilization for planting, but what you hear is people clamoring for food. As of June in Gowon County, South Hamgyong Province, the number of households that are unable to go to work due to the hunger is increasing. According to an official of the County Party, the deaths by starvation which happened between last February and May occurred mostly in these households.
Soonchun City of South Pyongan Province is attempting to reinforce ideological work when the majority of Democratic Women’s Union members did not attend the mobilization, but it is not working. They only hear, “How can we participate in the mobilization when we have not eaten anything?” In the case of a primary group of Ryeonbong dong, Soonchun, only 8 to 9 people out of 25 participates in everyday mobilization. Although officials of City Party and Women’s Union forces people with ideological work, people do not care and leave for peddling. On last May 26th, officials of Propaganda Department of City Party and Democratic Women’s Union in charge of ideological work criticized members of DWU who refused to follow their order with swearing only to be met by angry reaction from them. The officials said they felt intimidated as the atmosphere turned into a kind of public trial by a mob as the DWU members responded with anger saying, “You dare to criticize us when you can’t even provide food to us?” An official of the Union complained about the difficulties with mobilizing people saying, “Empty words don’t work any more. The government should be able to provide for people’s lives, but they are telling people to survive on their own. Who would trust and follow the Party’s propaganda in this situation? We have nothing to say even when people miss the mobilization.”

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

North Korea Today No. 341 June 2010

[“Good Friends” aims to help the North Korean people from a humanistic point of view and publishes “North Korea Today” describing the way the North Korean people live as accurately as possible. We at Good Friends also hope to be a bridge between the North Korean people and the world.]
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“The grass porridge season is back.” - Starting of Spring Lean Season in its Full-swing Puts Farmers at Hightened Risk of Death by Starvation
The Starvation Crisis in Big Cities Spreading Out to Farming Areas
Farm All-out Mobilization Troubled due to Absence of Starved Farmers
14 Residents of Hoeryong Nursing Home Died of Starvation
More than One-Third of all Residents in Chungjin City Live Daily on Watery Gruel
Seriousness of Coal Miners’ Starvation Reported Several Times as “No. 1 Report”, Woonjun County, North Pyongan Province
[Editorial]
You can give up on providing food, but you can’t give up on people’s lives also.
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“The grass porridge season is back.” - Starting of Spring Lean Season in its Full-swing puts Farmers at Hightened Risk of Death by Starvation
Now it is the season for farmers to go to the mountains, not farm field. The spring lean season started and they need to survive by making the best out of food shortage with wild greens and grass. In Yanghwa-ri Cooperative Farm in Sinpo City, there are 8 households currently suffering from starvation and the total of 70 households ran out of food across the whole farming work group. The number of starving household is likely to reach over 200 in July without outside food aid.

The death toll from starvation in cooperative farms is most rapidly increasing in rural areas of South and North Hwanghae Provinces. Situations are particularly severe in Taetan, Byeokseong, Jangyeon and Ryongyeon Counties in South Hwanghae Province and Eunpa, Seoheung and Bongsang Counties in North Hwanghae Province. In addition, reports are being delivered to the Central Party saying that death from starvation started to occur in farming households in Pyungsung and Sooncheon in South Pyongan Province and Jeongpyeong, Gowon and Hamjoo Counties in South Hamgyong Province. Even other cooperative farms in a better condition show signs of worsening food situation. In Chollima County in South Pyongan Province, with the largest cooperative farm nationwide, approximately 10% of the farmers were having food difficulties in mid-May. Ten in 100 households survived on wild greens and 2 to 3 farmers were absent per team unit. However, beginning in June, the number of absent farmers has increased to 3 to 4.

The Starvation Crisis in Big Cities is Spreading Out to Farming Areas
The absentee rate among farmers has been noticeably increasing. The rapid increase is due to the fact that the farmers have nothing to eat and thus are unable to go to work. The number of people dying from starvation has been increasing as well. Due to the currency exchange policy, the number of starving people in the cities has continuously increased during January and February. Now, this situation has spread out to the rural areas. According to the Hwanghae Province Party Investigation Report, approximately 60% of the farming families in Ohyun-li, Poongchun-li, and other areas in Yeonan County and Chungdan County are suffering from food shortage. Last year, these areas produced low harvest yields due to poor weather conditions. Moreover, the amount of food rations residents actually received was greatly reduced because so much of the rations, including 3-4 month military food ration, was taken out from the original food rations. However, with 15,000 won provided by the government during the currency exchange policy period, some residents could manage to live during January and February without selling their food stock. On the other hand, those households that already ran out of the money had no other choice but to sell their food stock. The farm households that received the smallest amount of rations last year were the first to run out of food this year.

The farms in the South Hwanghae Province are experiencing the same circumstances. At a workplace, one team consists of 13 to 15 people. However, the number of people who come to work in the team including the entry-level official is about seven or less. Kim, a worker at a cooperative farm in Baechun County, says, “The difference between the full-day worker and the regular farmers is that the full-day workers are people who already saved every bit of food by using any means possible.” Kim says that most regular farmers are unable to come out to work. “There are twelve people in my work group, but not even four people show up for work. Four people alternate to come to work three times a week. The rest of the farmers are suffering from starvation and are roaming around to collect grass for food.” If such absences continue to increase, the amount of ration at the end of the year will be subtracted. Therefore, Kim adds, “the poor will continue to be poor while the rich will continue to be rich.”

Farm All-out Mobilization Troubled due to Absence of Starved Farmers
Many farms including the ones in Jaryung and Baechun counties in South Hwanghae Province are experiencing difficulties in farming because more than half of the farmers are not coming to work due to starvation caused by food shortage. Currently, it is the farm all-out mobilization period. So, many urban laborers or students came to farm villages in large numbers, but there are not enough farmers who can guide them through farm work. A cooperative farm in Baechun County has 15 members, but only 5 people are working while the other 10 are absent. As many farms are unable to provide food for mobilized workers the plenary meeting at the South Hwanghae Province Party assigned college students and professional school students who could provide their own food. However, their farm work skill is very clumsy because they are from relatively well-to-do families. Farm members are assigned in every rice field so that they can work together with students and transfer the farm work skills, but there are not enough farmers who can teach the students so things cannot be corrected even when the work is not done correctly. Students do not really care about the quality of work because all they need is filling the time assigned to them everyday. The farms are deploring that this year's harvest won't be a good one because in many areas corn seeding and rice planting have not been done very well.

14 Residents of Hoeryong Nursing Home Died of Starvation
Amidst food shortages throughout the country the nursing home in Wonsan-ri, Hoeryong city, North Hamgyong Province has already experienced 14 deaths last May attributed to starvation. Before the currency exchange last year, the nursing home housed a total of about 50 residents. However, after the last survey which took place on May 3 only 35 people remain. Up until last year the nursing home had served porridge of grain flour mixed with corn and rice to its residents. As the food shortage worsened due to last year's currency exchange measures, rice porridge was replaced with thin soup almost to the level of plain water with a small amount of crushed maize and ground corncob. Moreover, even this was rationed to two scoops per person at a time. Hungry and desperate, the elderly with their stomachs clenched, are forced to go begging around town. This has become a very common scene. Wonsan Nursing Home had placed multiple requests for food to the People's Committee and also to the City Party for them to be rejected every time. All they received were corn flour, soybean paste, and soy sauce; in very small amounts that are never enough to cook anything. The situation gets even worse as no medicine is supplied. Considering the people have to eat wild plants and food from begging, it is not surprising that they suffer from digestive disorders, but they lack the simple pills for even settling indigestion. Aside from the lack of food and medicine, the shortage of drinking water is an even bigger problem. People drink dirty water, and therefore many suffer from colitis. The worst part is that the elderly and the young are the ones who pay most dearly for the general lack of what are basic necessities for survival.

More than One-Third of all Residents in Chungjin City Live Daily on Watery Gruel
According to the provincial party in North Hamgyong Province, it has been reported that one-third of the population in Chungjin City live on one to two meals of watery gruel which consists of corn powder and wild greens. From a recent survey conducted in Chungjin City, it has been found that on average 15 to 17 people die from starvation each day. Merchants operating in the Ranam and Songpyong areas can at least afford to eat crushed maize soup for breakfast and corn noodle for dinner. However, many of these merchants have reported that even if they were to sell all of their goods, it would still be impossible for them to earn enough money to buy 1-Kg of rice. Moreover, residents of Northern Chungjin put all their efforts in small plot farming by going to mountains just to farm on small plots of land, which they desperately depend on since they have no other means of living. At an emergency meeting, the executive members of Chungjin City harshly criticized the party for having fed the crisis with their passivity and failure to respond promptly and properly. Gimchaek Steel Mill, which is still operating, is not able to acquire enough food for the residents; and even if they were most of the food would not be distributed efficiently. Although, some food support is provided for the more needy families in each neighborhood by the executive members to rescue people from near death; these efforts only cover on average two to three households in each neighborhood unit and are not vast enough to lessen the ordeal for the majority of the starving residents. More than half of the residents are starving in each neighborhood and the impact of the food shortage is rapidly reaching more people throughout the country.

Seriousness of Coal Miners’ Starvation Reported Several Times as “No. 1 Report”, Woonjun County, North Pyongan Province
In early April, there was a serious hunger crisis in Woonjun County, which was reported as ‘Number 1 Report’ several times. Many coal miners had died from starvation. Thus, the Central Party urgently distributed corn for the early April food ration. The coal miners and their children received food rations, but their wives were excluded. However, the rations had run out by late April. Even during the food distribution, many families had to rely on porridge as the main source of food. But when the distribution stopped, the absentee rate in the workforce drastically increased. The government attempted to encourage people to return to work by claiming they will give 15 days of rations toward the end of May, but to no avail. Laborers who were infuriated by the lack of food are saying, “If you’re going to punish us, then punish us. The most miserable and lowest-class job is coal mining. What other job would be worse than this one?” They protested that they would be happier if they were sent to rural farms.

[Editorial]
You can give up on providing food, but you can’t give up on people’s lives also.
“… Ah, we can’t let these flies die. That’s because the poor people who died of starvation turned into these flies. Ah, the tragedy of being born in these unfortunate times. Huge famine left behind its sad devastation last year, followed by the cruel winter cold. Disease ravaged through the people, already victimized by brutal exploitation. Countless people died. Mounds of corpses dotted the roads, while straw mats used to wrap them covered the entirety of the hills. When spring came and warm winds blew over these bodies without coffins or even burial clothes, frozen flesh thawed into decay. Little rivers of water streamed out of mounds of melting flesh, kneading and congealing until they transformed into maggots at least ten-thousand times more numerous than the sands on the river beaches yonder. Maggots developed wings and, turning into flies, took flight and promptly flew back into those houses from whence their previous incarnation came. How could anyone deny that these flies are us? I cry over your lives. Now that I prepared this food and invited all the flies far and wide, please come and partake in my humble offering…”

This was written in 1810 (10th year of King Soon Jo of Yi Dynasty) by Dasan Yak-yong Jung while living in exile. It is a part of his work called, “Condolence to Flies,” expressing his deep sorrow and heartfelt wish to console the untold deaths of everyday people who suffered greatly in the famine of 1809 and 1810. He was describing in unconventional, poignant terms the horror of the swarm of flies that sprouted from the litter of untended bodies of the victims of famine and disease. And he makes the point of condemning the corruption of the officials and their brutal exploitation as reasons for the pitiful deaths of the people.

Unfortunately, this is also the reality of North Korea today. Although millions of people died during the Arduous March in mid-1990’s, the survivors at least could make their living – however tough it was – by doing everything they could to find food. But now in 2010, due to the failure of the currency reform and deterioration of the North-South Korea relationship, they are once again facing the end of the line. We have already heard that the 2008 famine situation – due to the consecutive annual floods of 2006 and 2007 and stoppage of inter-Korean aid – had resembled that of the Arduous March. However, we are now hearing the alarming news that 2010 will be even worse than the Arduous March years. North Korean authorities went as far as admitting on May 26th that “for a while, the government cannot solve the food problem at the national level,” and urging the local units to provide for themselves.

This has never happened before. No matter how bad the food situation became, the North Korean government would always tell the people to hold on because it will soon get better. Well, not this time. This time, the government is telling the people to take care of themselves in whatever way they can. The May 26th announcement is de-facto admittance by the government that they are giving up when it comes to food shortages. That is how serious the food shortages are, which also means that, unless there is some extraordinary development, many people will inevitably die. The desperate situation calls for urgent humanitarian intervention by the international community.

In light of the fact that the North Korean government has officially abdicated its responsibility to feed its own people, it falls to the shoulders of the international community, including South Korea, to help the North Korean people survive. The choice is stark, but it is our choice to make. Do we provide food aid and try to save as many people as possible from starvation, or do nothing and watch as countless people die of starvation? We cannot save the people by blaming the incompetence of the North Korean government. That is why the international community, including South Korea, must quickly provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea.

Although inter-Korea interaction has screeched to a halt over the Cheonan sinking, we need to reiterate the long-held principle that humanitarian assistance not be linked to political considerations. Granted, North Korean authorities have in the past used South Korean humanitarian aid as propaganda to burnish its domestic image by spinning the aid as the result of negotiations with the South. But at the same time, South Korean aid also brought about a fundamental shift in how North Korean people viewed South Korea. Further, the days are long past when North Korean government could use humanitarian aid for regime propaganda purposes. South Korean humanitarian aid to the North today represents a key opportunity for the South to show its moral superiority to not only the people of North Korea but also its officials. It could also provide the impetus for inter-Korea dialogue to resume more in line with the South Korean agenda.

As for the North Korean government, it must not give up its diplomatic efforts to invite international humanitarian assistance no matter how difficult the food situation becomes. The most important work of a government is to safeguard the lives of the people. Although in-country food has run out and food imports are difficult because of lack of foreign currency, the door to international humanitarian aid is still open. If the North Korean government were to proactively seek out international assistance, it will be helped. It must not equate request for international humanitarian assistance to begging. North Korean government must understand that its regime becomes more secure the better off the people’s lives become.

Now is the right time for the Koreas to come together, not to argue over past faults and lay blame, but to come up with a peace-building plan to lessen tension on the peninsula, agree on a humanitarian effort to stave off famine in North Korea, and concur on a plan to allow the divided families to come together before more of them die of old age without seeing their long-separated families.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

North Korea Today No. 340 June 2010

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

[Announcement] Lotus Lantern Ceremony in Washington DC, on the Occasion of Buddha's Birthday

Washington Jungto Society & Good Friends USA
(MD) 4605 Powder Mill Rd. Beltsville, MD 20705
(DC) 734 15th St. NW #500B, Washington DC 20005
Tel: 301.937.0748(o), 864.650.2252(c)
E-mail: jungto.dc@gmail.com, goodfriends.usa@gmail.com

We cordially invite you to a Lotus Lantern Ceremony, on the occasion of Buddha’s Birthday. The ceremony will be dedicated to peace in the Korean Peninsula and the World.

It will take place on Saturday, May 15th from 10:30-1pm & 2:20pm-4:40pm, in the Constitution Gardens just off the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Church of the Epiphany near the White House (please see the attached map).

Lighting a lantern on Buddha’s Birthday symbolizes the enlightenment of sentient beings through Buddha’s wisdom and compassion. As this year marks the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, we would like to call upon the wisdom and compassion of the world to bring an end to the war and bring about peace and reconciliation to the region.

The ceremony will consist of two parts. In Part I, everyone is invited to make their own lotus lanterns, as well as hear from Venerable Pomnyun and other luminaries. We will also feature traditional Korean merrymaking performances. For Part II, the venue is moved to the Church of the Epiphany near the White House. We will engage directly with Venerable Pomnyun in his renowned Q&A Dharma Talk, “Design Your Life with True Happiness,” which will be interpreted from Korean to English to encourage active participation from everyone.

We hope you can join us for this joyful and happy celebration on Buddha’s Birthday and look forward to seeing you on May 15th.

Sincerely yours,
Soonyoung Min-Kim, Ph.D.

Executive Director
The U.S. Branch, Jungto Society and Good Friends USA

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A Lotus Lantern Ceremony on the Occasion of Buddha’s Birthday
-Dedicated to peace in the Korean Peninsula and the World-

Time: Saturday, May 15, 2010 (Buddhist Era 2554)
Venue: Constitution Gardens & The Church of the Epiphany

Part I: Lotus Lantern Ceremony (10:00am-1:00pm)
Master of Ceremony: Jihyun Kim, Interpreter: Jason Lim
Venue: Constitution Gardens (near the Vietnam War Memorial)

1. Pre-Ceremony: 10:00-11:00am
- Lotus Lantern Making (10:00-11:00, Continued through the ceremony)
- Korean Samulnori (10:30-11:00, Performed in motion around the place of ceremony)

2. Main Ceremony (11:00-12:00)
- Homage to the Three Jewels (in Pali)
- Heart Sutra (in Korean)
- Welcome Greeting (Seungmuk You, President of the Washington Jungto Society)
- Congratulatory Speech
(Ashin Asabhacara, Mangalarama Vihara)
(Robert Kang)
- Salpurichoom (Dance for Soothing the Spirits) & Silent Tribute
- The Prayer for the Departed (Junja Kim, President of the Columbus Jungto Society)
- Peace Message (Venerable Pomnyun Sunim)
- Meditation Dedicated to Peace in the Korean Peninsula and the World
- The Four Great Vows & Closing Statement

3. Merrymaking Performances (12:00-1:00)
- Janggu (Hourglass-shaped drum) Performance
- Seungmoo (Buddhist Monk Dance) (Artist Lisa Mi Seo, Dance One Academy)
- Singing (Cheolon Lee, Senior Research fellow at Good Friends USA)
- Samulnori (Korean Pure Sound)
- Lantern Parade (Chanting of “Shakyamuni Buddha”)

Lunch Break (1:00-2:20)
- A chance to visit the Korea War Memorial
- Lunch
- Change of venue for the Part II event

Part II: Design Your Life with True Happiness (2:20pm-4:40pm)
Q & A Dharma Talk by Venerable Pomnyun Sunim
Master of Ceremony: Spencer Yang, Interpreter: Jason Lim
Venue: The Church of the Epiphany
1317 G St. NW, Washington DC 20005

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

North Korea Today No. 339 April 2010

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Announcement: Good Friends will not be releasing its weekly publication, North Korea Today, for one month in April to take the much needed time for reorganization. We will resume the publication after the break with new improvements. We appreciate your interests and support for NKT. Good Friends will continue to do the best it can to help North Korean people’s voice be heard as accurately as possible and to serve as a foundation for peaceful reunification of Korea.Thank you. Good Friends USA

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[Hot Topics]
Rice Price Drops Temporarily Due to Regulations by 100:1 Enforcement Agents
Drop of Foreign Currency is Linked to Falling Rice Price
Large Factories Provide Rations by Selling Pig Iron, Influencing Drop in Rice Price

[Food]
People Die of Starvation Everyday in Sinuiju

[Economy]
Experts inside North Korea said “The wrong policy causes a couple of million dollar loss every day”.

[Politics]
Central Party Security Groups Dispatched to National Border Area to Confiscate Mobile Phones

[Society]
Conscription this Year, “Girls Taller than 155cm to be Drafted without Exception”
Fishermen Lament Being Regarded as Means of Earning Money, rather than Husbands

[Women/Children/Education]
North Hamgyong Province, Junior High School Moves to Hoeryong from Chungjin

[Accidents]
Security Agent Murdered While Trying to Confiscate a Cell Phone in Hoeryong City

[Investigative Report]
What is meant by “Every Price Must Be Converted at the Rate of 100:1?”
__________________________________________________________
[Hot Topics]
Rice Price Drops Temporarily Due to Regulations by 100:1 Enforcement Agents
On March 30th, the price of rice plummeted from 700 NKW/kg to 140 NKW/kg in Dangsang Market of Mangyundae area, Pyongyang City. It is not the only commodity affected. For example, the price of corn dropped from 400-500 NKW per kilogram to 40 NKW, or roughly 1/10 of the previous price. The prices are going down in other regions as well. On the same day, rice was 200 NKW per kilogram and corn was 68 NKW per kilogram in Haeju City of South Hwanghae Province. In Hoeryong City of North Hamgyong Province, rice was 250 NKW and corn was 80 NKW. The wholesale sellers of food believe that the price of rice dropped from 700-800 NKW per kilogram to 200 NKW on average nationwide because of the regulations by 100:1 standing committee, not because of an increase in rice supply. From March 16th to 18th, one member of the cabinet was dispatched in each county to exercise an intense control of the market.

On March 29th, the Leading Secretaries of city and county parties, the chairman of People’s Assembly, and the chief officers from Safety Bureau and trade officers gathered and held a meeting to discuss ways to stabilize the recent prices of food and goods. The meeting announced the following: “Since the enforcement of this economic policy (the currency exchange) of the nation, people’s standard of living has been lowered drastically because goods and food were not circulated, therefore aggravating public sentiment every day. In order to rectify this, an organization work must be enforced, and each city and county must dedicate itself in reinforcing the control and diligently performing the duty of supervising 100:1 standing committee members. The task of regulating the price of goods as was directed by the state must be finished by April 1st. In order to eliminate the fluctuation of price, the value of foreign currency must be dropped and the value of state currency (North Korean won) must be enhanced. People can enjoy stable life only after the price is under control.”

Drop of Foreign Currency is Linked to Falling Rice Price
While the 100:1 standing committee is expected to stabilize the prices, some experts inside North Korea predict that rice price cannot be stabilized by the work of the committee because its role is only a temporary measure. Some say that the reason for the fall of rice price is not because of 100:1 standing committee, but because of dropping foreign currency. The currency exchange rate was 2,300 NKW per USD on March 4th and it came down to 500 NKW as of March 30th. Exchange rate of US dollar is set in Sinuiju, not in Pyongyang. The sudden dropping of USD exchange rate was due to releasing of government hoarded USD into the market by allowing individuals to purchase it using new NK currency. While this fall of USD exchange rate has helped price of rice and other necessities to fall, some argue, this effect is only temporary and not an ultimate solution. Despite the price fall, the rice is still too expensive for people without money to afford. Also, without a large supply of food from outside, the price would rise again shortly because there is not so much food available inside North Korea.

Large Factories Provide Rations by Selling Pig Iron, Influencing Drop in Rice Price
Currently, rations have only been distributed in Pyongyang for the month of March. In Hamheung, Chungjin and Wonsan, large factories provided food to their laborers by selling pig iron and machines. Therefore, laborers in large factories are not purchasing food from markets due to these provisions, which may have caused downward pressure on rice prices in areas outside of Pyongyang. As of April 1, the rice supply had not reached its maximum, which means that rice prices did not fall due to imports from China or due to hoarded rice released in the markets by individuals, whom safety authorities have already inspected. Therefore, there is no reason for the food situation to improve at the moment.

[Food]
People Die of Starvation Everyday in Sinuiju
People continue to die of starvation at a steady rate in Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province. Countless civilians have been dying due to malnutrition since January in Rakwon 1-2 Dong and Rakchung 1-2 Dong, city of South Sinuiju, where the Rakwon Mechanics Union Company is located. The exact number of deaths is uncertain, but it is estimated to have mounted to 3,000. About half of the population of Sinuiju is being sustained on corn gruel, and still many have nothing. The head of each of the neighborhood units reports the deaths to the village office, who then reports them to the police station. However, they are not permitted to state malnutrition as the cause of the deaths. The heads of the units are under strict surveillance to prevent the word of starvation to spread. The residents of Sinuiju are gravely concerned about the consequences that will follow if the food supply remains at its low level going into mid April. The situation is no better in Dukchun, South Pyongan Province, Kangye, Jagang Province, and Wonsan, Kangwon Province, where many people have been dying of starvation as well.

[Economy]
Experts inside North Korea said “The wrong policy causes a couple of million dollar loss every day”.
“First, after the currency reform, the NK government set the rice price 44 NKW per 1kg of rice. This was the first problem. After the 7.1 economic measures, the price became 44 NKW/kg which was 0.08 NKW beforehand. Even after currency reform, the price was still fixed at 44 NKW/kg. This is against the market price of the rice which was around 25-30 NKW/kg at that time. Thus, the market price skyrocketed up to 100 NKW/kg, 120 NKW/kg, 500NKW/kg, and even to 1,400 NKW/kg around early March. This was the first reason why the wrong policy created confusions in the market.
Second, banning foreign currency exchange since Jan 1st, 2010 was another problem. North Korea doesn’t produce a lot of industrial products and mainly import them. In addition, the domestic currency was very unstable. The banning of foreign currency exchange was announced under these circumstances so the entire commercial circulation halted. What this means is prohibiting raw materials and other base products from being supplied. Eventually, many people died of hunger and the entire nation was put in crisis.
Third, although official exchange rate was set at 30 NKW per USD, the actual price in the market was evaluated at 98.35 NKW per USD. This caused the price of goods to skyrocket and the NK currency to fall. Because of this, those who had US dollars did not go to the bank to exchange money, but to the black market. Thus, the bank has had loss of a couple of million dollars everyday.”

[Politics]
Central Party Security Groups Dispatched to National Border Area to Confiscate Mobile Phones
Central Party Security Groups composed of national security guards were sent to the national border area, including Sinuiju of North Pyongan Province. This year’s inspection in Sinuiju was much stronger than that of previous years. This year’s main focus is illegal mobile phones. Mobile phones sold at state-run stores do not function to make calls to Pyongyang or China, therefore exempt from the inspection. Instead, those who possess phones that are capable of making calls to Pyongyang and China are being severely punished. In previous years, $300 to $500 dollars of bribe was enough to be let off, but this year, victims must pay fines and are banished. Such severe punishments are due to the worry that national security information would flow out. There have been some Chinese descendents turning themselves in at the intricate inspection that involved banishing not only potential spies but also merchants who contacted China through their mobile phones. Such actions are due to the notion that if one turns him or herself in, the fault would be erased and no fines would be collected. In neighborhood unit meetings, there have been advertisements encouraging people to turn themselves in.

[Society]
Conscription this Year, “Girls Taller than 155cm to be Drafted without Exception”
The Department of Military Mobilization begins conscription, targeting graduates of middle school (equivalent of 12th grade graduates) on April 15th. The Military Recruitment Division of the People’s Defense Ministry issued a command to “enlist more male recruits and to recruit females as well if there are not enough boys” to city and provincial military mobilization departments nationwide. The order also directs to conscribe those females taller than 155cm without exception, by giving strong ideological education to those who are not interested. The recruitment was extended to females because the number of people subject to enlistment is small in the first place. Children of railroad-related workers are allowed to work as railroad laborers instead of joining the army.

Fishermen Lament Being Regarded as Means of Earning Money, rather than Husbands
As life becomes tougher, fishermen from the east coast in North Hamgyong Province complain that they are disrespected by their peers since their families disrespect them. Kwanyong Kim, who works at Fisheries Enterprise in Chungjin City, North Hamgyong Province, said “It is an old story that I was respected as a husband or head of household, and now I am just an instrument to make money. It might sound preposterous but there is another story.” He then recounted a story. “A man came back from a month of fishing at sea and he gathered his family members together in order to drink and relax with them. One day, as the current became optimal for fishing, his wife carried her sleeping husband in a wagon to a wharf and boarded him on his ship. The man was unconscious, but soon became confused when he woke up at sea. This phenomenon has occurred in other countries as well. “For example, in Russia, Seokjoong Park (alias) was arrested by Russian guards for trespassing on the sea-border line. He said, “I was imprisoned in a trailer where I could not eat properly and even wash my face.” When Russia released those who had illegally crossed the border, the Security Department asked the man's family to pay the cost of fuel for the ship to transport him back to North Korea. His family and employer declined to pay the fees. As a result, the fisherman then lost will to live, or earn money for his family. Fortunately, the firm that employed him did pay for the fuel, but he was traumatized by the experience.

[Women/Children/Education]
North Hamgyong Province, Junior High School Moves to Hoeryong from Chungjin
The First Junior High School in Chungjin, North Hamgyong Province, has been closed down and Kim Ki-Song Junior High School in Hoeryong city will be turned into the new First Junior High School. The school closing and relocation is one of many strategies to make Hoeryong City, the hometown of Kim Jung-Suk, a better place. Because of the school closing, academically high ranked students and the children of officials have been transferring to Kim Ki-Song Junior High School since April 1. The provincial education department ordered Hoeryong City officials to take care of the students who have transferred from other cities and counties. Despite official support for the school closing, the officials considered the First Junior High School’s move to Hoeryong City to be a burden. As the children of provincial party and police officials have moved to the Hoeryong, the cost of their education must come out of the city party budget. On the other hand, the teachers of the First Junior High School are expecting their financial situation to improve. Since the incoming class is comprised of 70% high officials’ children and 30% children of wealthy families, the teachers are looking forward to steady support from their parents. Teachers, thinking of the extra money such parents could offer, are eager to begin teaching at the new junior high school. They consider the closing of the First Junior High School and the repurposing of the Kim Ki-Song Junior High School to be a stroke of good luck.

[Accidents]
Security Agent Murdered While Trying to Confiscate a Cell Phone in Hoeryong City
In Secheon-Dong, Hoeryong City, North Hamgyong Province, a worker at the local Grain Policy Enterprise has been arrested for the murder of a security agent who was trying to find illegal cell phone users. After an investigation, it came to light that the worker, Kim Kyung-chul, had begged the agent not to report his possession of a cell phone. Mr. Kim said that he had needed the phone to communicate with his brother in China. When the agent persisted in his threat to report Mr. Kim, the worker, knowing the punishment for possession of cell phone, killed the agent with a hatchet.
Three days after the murder, investigators looking into the disappearance of the agent found out that Mr. Kim was the last person to see him alive. Mr. Kim had already burned the body and hidden it in the sewage of the local railway company office. The city security department interrogated Mr. Kim and his wife, who denied the allegations and claimed that they had seen the agent leave their home. Eventually, after interrogating Mr. Kim and his wife, along with his younger brother, the city security department was able to get a confession for the murder from Mr. Kim.
A day after recovering the body, the employees at the City Party, police, and security departments attended a funeral ceremony paid for by the grain policy enterprise that had employed Mr. Kim. Along with Mr. Kim, his wife, and his brother, the security department also arrested his mother and three-year-old son. The family was sent to the “22nd Unit” labor detention center for killing the security agent. The City Party confiscated his house and property. Because this incident is the first homicide case of a security agent, it is rumored that not only Mr. Kim’s immediate family but both sides of his extended family will also be punished.
The City Security Department made a suggestion to Central Party and issued a formal resolution that it would crack down on possession of illegal cell phones in Hoeryong City. To this end, the Security Department launched a campaign in Hoeryong City to make people voluntarily report their possession of any cell phones between April 15th and the Day of the Sun (the birthday of Kim Il Sung).

[Investigative Report]
What is meant by “Every Price Must Be Converted at the Rate of 100:1.”
Recently, the North Korean government has formed a “100:1 Standing Committee” in an attempt to manipulate all the prices. Let’s try to understand the meaning of government’s directives saying, “Every price must be converted at the rate of 100:1.”

1. The problem with a fixed government price
The fixed prices established by the government for rice before the Arduous March was 8 jeon (0.08 NKW) per kg. The monthly salary of a typical laborer was about 100 NKW which was sufficient to buy one ton of rice. However, the price of rice after Arduous March increased to around 80 NKW per kg. The price of rice rose to the level of one month's salary, and the official price of 8 jeon was merely a nominal figure. Subsequently, food distribution and wages were discontinued. Individuals who were excluded from the government distribution system met their needs through peddling at the market and small patch farming. Rice sold in the market became a luxury item for ordinary residents.

2. The North Korean government attempted to narrow the gap between the official price and the market price through the 7.1 Economic Management Improvement measures in 2002. As the prices of commodities rose exponentially the government raised the average monthly salary of laborers from 100 to 2,500 NKW, a 25-fold increase, giving more purchasing power to the laborers. The unrealistic rice price of 8 jeon (0.08 NKW) was raised 550 times to 44 NKW which was about half the price of market price, to make it more realistic.

The level of salary adjustment was not even close to that of rice price adjustment, but the extra purchasing power obtained provided some market stability temporarily. However, the workers' increased purchasing power combined with the absence of an adequate supply of goods triggered inflation. The price of rice increased steadily, surpassing 4,000 NKW during the lean spring season in 2008, then fell back to 2,000 NKW level, which is about equal to one month's salary right before the currency exchange measure.

3. Attempts to make prices more realistic through currency regulations
The North Korean government carried out a currency revaluation at a 100:1 ratio. In contrast to the 7.1 Economic Management Improvement measures in 2002, the face value of monthly salaries was kept at 2,000 to 3,000 NKW and lowered all the prices to 1/100 level. With the circulation of the new currency, the North Korean government declared an officials price for rice at 44 jeon (0.44 NKW per kg). This is 1/100 (one percent) of the previous price of 44 NKW. The distribution price of rice for supporting a family is kept at 44 NKW as before. Although the face value is the same, supporting family members have to purchase food at a price that is 100 times more expensive.

4. New government prices are creating confusion in the market
The distribution price of rice was 44 NKW when the official government prices were announced, but merchants at the market were still applying the 100 to 1 ratio following the currency exchange ratio. The rice price prior to currency exchange was between 1,800 and 2,000 NKW, and the trading price in the market was between 19 and 20 NKW. The North Korean government issued directives saying, “Do not consider prices in terms of 100 to 1. Follow the new government-set prices.” However, because of delays in the public announcement of prices the trading prices at the market tend to follow the before currency exchange price of 1 to 100 level. As a result, residents ignored the government order because the government distribution price was more expensive than the market price.

5. New inflation, issuance of 100 to 1 directive
The currency exchange measure did not solve the imbalance between supply and demand and contained fundamental contradictions. The situation where the market price was lower than the distribution price did not last more than a few days. Prices skyrocketed and the foreign currency exchange rate also fluctuated. Farmers with money in their hand are holding on to grains in preparation of the spring lean season. Merchants in the market are waiting for prices to go up again. The distribution of food and wages promised by the government was soon suspended, and death by starvation caused by food shortages began spreading among the urban labor class.

The ongoing rise of prices and foreign currency will continue because there is no external supply and receipt of foreign aid is very unlikely. While the price of rice was set at 23 NKW on December 9 the value of new currency is dropping continuously, death by starvation is occurring throughout the country, and antagonism against government policy is strong in areas with a high concentration of laborers. The problem will get worse unless commodity prices are lowered by official means.

North Korean authorities had to create the 100 to 1 standing committee and dispatch enforcement agents throughout the country. The agents are responsible for limiting the prices of goods traded in the market within the set prices. The ceiling price for rice is 25 NKW per kg (as of February 1, 2010). This is the highest price among the various trading prices in the market before the currency exchange measure was announced. This is an attempt to embrace the market price prior to the currency exchange measure in order to stabilize the market and calm people’s anxiety, but it is a band-aid approach to solving the problem.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

North Korea Today No. 338 March 2010

[Politics]
Police Authorities Across the Country to Remain High Alert to Any Sign of Commotion
The Central Party ordered all police bureaus to stay alert against public unrest, particularly in the big cities. At the first sign of public unrest following the currency reform, the police were ordered to be on alert for 24 hours. As the living conditions worsen for residents and the number of death by starvation rises, distrust of the government is now at an all-time high. Safety Bureau is being extremely vigilant about any change that can be translated into symptom of violence.
War veterans in Sinuiju County in the North Pyongan Province are protesting to the City and Provincial Parties of hunger. In Danchun and Pyongsung, the war veterans continue to complain persistently, albeit peacefully, because the Party prohibits any demonstrations and other gatherings to deter any escalation of tension in society. In Soomoon Dong and Minpo Dong, which are considered areas of sever poverty, hunger keeps children from attending school. Instead, the children roam the streets looking for food. In Kangye, Wonsan, and Hamheung, the situation is so bad that people are worried that the streets will soon be full of dead bodies. As hunger and starvation stir up anger, police in those areas are staying extremely alert.

[Society]
Reduction in Bus Service from Chungjin to Hoeryong
After the currency redenomination negatively affected business, bus service between Chungjin and Hoeryong was also reduced. While the bus used to run six times a day, these days it runs only twice a day. Even with the reduced service, there are occasions when the bus sits idle for lack of passengers. The rising price of fuel and a lack of gasoline have also resulted in periodic disruptions in bus service. As the number of bus in service decreases to a large degree, the price of a bus ticket continues to rise. A bus ride that cost only 600 won in February costs 1,500 won starting on the first of March.

Lecture in Neighborhood Unit, Sinuiju: hoof-and-mouth Disease is Reported in S. Pyongan Province
Hoof-and-mouth disease has broken out in various areas of South Pyongan Province. Although it originally affected domestic animals, some people have showed symptoms of the disease. The Neighborhood Unit reported to residents that the disease came from foreign countries.

[Women/Children/Education]
Young Students in Sinuiju Mobilized to Plant a Field of Fruit Trees
Local middle school students in Sinuiju of Pyongan Province, have been ordered to cultivate a field of fruit trees at a nearby chicken meat packing plant. On March 19, 2009 young students were mobilized, without being fed lunch on a rainy day. They were directed to “dig a trench”, in other words to dig a hole 5 meters deep; however, the work was difficult because the ground was stony. Students have to pay 600 NK won for a roundtrip-bus fare in order to get the workplace and they can only take two lunch boxes. On the fourth day of working they were exhausted. Daily Labor(“일공노동”) is scheduled for 8 hours a day. It is too hard for adults so the children are not allowed to do it; therefore, young students are mobilized in the morning and return to their home after working for a short time in the afternoon. But this Daily Labor(“일공노동”) assigned to students has made them exhausted within a few days. Parents of working households were ordered to provide 200kg and those from supporting households to provide 250kg of gravel, which will be used to pave a road. If they can’t afford to do, they have to pay 4000-5000 NK Won, or 20 NK Won per kg. There is a second task of carrying out human manure. Each family has been assigned to carry out two tones of human manure. They have to pay money if they can’t meet their assigned target. Starving children and parents have protested against the imposition of the burdensome assignment.

Friday, April 2, 2010

North Korea Today No. 337 March 2010

[“Good Friends” aims to help the North Korean people from a humanistic point of view and publishes “North Korea Today” describing the way the North Korean people live as accurately as possible. We at Good Friends also hope to be a bridge between the North Korean people and the world.]
__________________________________________________________
[Hot Topics]
Business in Pyongsung Has Been Hit the Hardest Due to the Blocking of International Trade
Starvation in a Cosmetics Manufacturing Factory in Sinuiju
Order to "Only Import Rice" Received with Much Disagreement

[Food]
Number of Households Dying of Hunger in Chungjin Rapidly Increasing
Gimchaek Steel Mill Makes Food Distribution to Workers in March

[Economy]
Foreign Currency Rate Drops Temporarily Since the Second Week of March
Merchants at Soonam Market Challenge Market Control
Only Police Officers are Gained by Strict Control of the Market

[Politics]
Hoeryong, “Do not roam around unnecessarily after 7pm”
ChungJin, Helpless at the Continuous Occurrence of Murder Cases

[Society]
“Do Not Get food from Someone Else’s House”
The Poor Need Help, but Everyone is in the Same Situation

[Women/Children/Education]
Many Children Abandoned in front of Hamheung City Orphanage

[Accidents]
Two Pyongyang Residents Murdered at Wonsan Station

[Investigative Report]
Four Reasons Causing Deaths by Starvation in 2010

__________________________________________________________
[Hot Topics]
Business in Pyongsung Has Been Hit the Hardest Due to the Blocking of International Trade
After the ban of the foreign currency use was implemented across the country in January, business in Pyongsung has been hit the hardest due to the sharp falls in the amount of imports to Sinuiju. Those who maintained their livelihood after the closure of the Pyongsung market last June cannot do business anymore because they have nothing to sell. Pyongsung has been functioning as a wholesale market that supplies imports across the country. However, after the new ban, no products were available in Pyongsung, making the residents suffer from difficult livelihoods. Because Pyongsung did not manufacture its own products, it has been developed as a wholesale market in which the products from Sinuiju or Pyongyang are distributed across the country. The ban on foreign currency use and the rising prices of imports are exacerbating the situation, leading to an increase in starvation. One Pyongsung executive official estimated that a great number of people must have starved to death in Soonchun, Dukchun, and Pyongsung combined.

Starvation in a Cosmetics Manufacturing Factory in Sinuiju
The biggest cosmetics manufacturing factory in North Korea is located in Sinuiju, North Hamgyong Province, and has a great number of workers as such. The food distribution at the factory was not usually stable. However, the distribution was discontinued after the currency reform, which has resulted in starvation among the workers. The Neighborhood Unit asked the community to help those suffering with food shortage. However, the residents coldly responded to the request. They explicitly expressed their anger toward the head of the Unit by saying, “Even we have nothing to eat right now. How can we help others in these hard times?”

Order to "Only Import Rice" Received with Much Disagreement
Sinuiju customs authority and party officials are currently conducting an inspection. Due to the shortage of rice, the country has been instructed to ban imports of fruit and to only allow strategic materials for manufactured goods to be brought into the country. They implemented this measure to make food import a number one priority. The citizens are saying this order is “nonsense.” Kim Jae Kook (alias), a wholesale dealer from Pyongsung said, "We need other goods besides rice to keep the market open. If rice is only imported, it won't help the market." Cho Bong Il (alias) from Pyongyang also had a similar opinion. "(Trade) businesses are searching for rice in Dandong, China, but there is no hope. In the past, Chinese immigrants went to China and brought rice back on credit, but now they are not allowed to do this. No one wants to sell things on credit. We need other goods in the market so that people will bring out their rice. It’s difficult enough as it is to import any goods, so restricting the import to rice is ridiculous.”

[Food]
Number of Households Dying of Hunger in Chungjin Rapidly Increasing
Stricken by hunger, the number of households that cannot even manage to eat an ounce of soup is rapidly increasing in Chungjin City, North Hamgyong Province. Chungjin City estimated that since February, people have been dying of hunger in all the districts. Death tolls have reached highs of 20 a day and the number of households that do not have anything to eat continues to increase. In enterprises that employ 350 to 500 workers, 50 to 60 laborers on average are absent due to starvation. Despite the severity of the current food crisis and the significant impact it has on the operation of these enterprises, not enough measures are being taken on part of these businesses.

Gimchaek Steel Mill Makes Food Distribution to Workers in March
The Gimchaek Steel Mill in the North Hamgyong Province was finally able to make the food distribution for March. On the first two days of March, before Chairman Kim Jong-Il began his site visit, the rations were distributed over two days. The steel mill put in a lot of effort to distribute the rations. There was a significant amount of loss occurred in transporting food, but the mill was able to give the ration for the first and last ten days of the month to the laborers. However, the report that the rations were normally distributed was a false report. The only rations that were given out were lunches for laborers with physical work such as the steel mill workers. Other than soups prepared with about four to five pieces of pork, no other meals were distributed. Despite this, reports went out saying that normal rations of food were being given out, putting the laborers in low spirits. Currently, even with the rations for March having been distributed, at least seven to ten people per company are still unable to go to work.

[Economy]
Foreign Currency Rate Drops Temporarily Since the Second Week of March
The foreign currency rate has been fluctuating all the time these days, but recently it went down temporarily since the second week of March. In Pyongsung of South Pyongan Province, the rate was 1,630 won for 1 US dollar in the evening of March 11th; it went down to 1,450 won the next day, and went down even further to 1,400 won on 13th. Although the downtrend did not last as the rate went up to 1,550 won on that evening, the severe fluctuation, which went up to 1,650 won in the early March, is temporarily stopped. In addition, 1 yuan was dropped from 240 won to around 200 won.

Merchants at Soonam Market Challenge Market Control
Price regulations on market good have started to be enforced in Soonam Market in Chungjin, North Hamgyong Province in light of continued price instability. However, the merchants are showing greater resistance to the regulations. On March 11th and 12th, regulators cracked down on merchants selling rice at "very high" prices; however, they were met with anger where the merchants raised their voices protesting that rice was not supposed to be controlled. In response to this, the Safety Bureau took drastic measures in banning resistant merchants from selling their goods at all, effectively punishing merchants selling sugar, side dishes and other processed foods.

Only Police Officers Are Gained by Strict Control of the Market
The Soonam market in Chungjin was regulated on 11th and 12th. On 13th, an administrative officer picked up a megaphone in front of the market and warned that “people should enter the market only when it opens in the afternoon and the peddlers who are not allowed to use the sales booth cannot sell goods in the market”. On this day, 20 peddlers who were not supposed to sell goods inside of the market were caught as they spread goods and sold them around the market. After each is fined with 500 won, the regulated goods are supposed to be returned back according to the rules, but the police officers are pocketing some of them. On 14th, Joo Mi-Young (alias) was caught while she was peddling food, and approximately 40 kilograms of rice, 20 kilograms of glutinous rice, and 40 kilograms of crushed maize were confiscated. Later, she received them back and checked them to find out about 5 kilograms of both rice and glutinous rice were disappeared. She went to a police officer to ask about it, but only to be hurled vulgar abuses, such as “this OOOOO vixen dares to run amok here”. This type of case in which Ms. Joo had experienced occurs to 30-40 people per day on average, and if one includes peddlers who came from local regions, sometimes it occurs to more than 50 people. Once a violation is discovered upon inspection, a fine is imposed and a report is made, but if they receive 40 cases, they report about 20 cases only to the superior authority. Then they siphon off the fines and divide them among themselves. In such a way, the police officers are earning 5,000 to 10,000 won per day on average. If the siphoned commodities are added here, a daily earning of police officers is pretty substantial. People are just infuriated at this news.

[Politics]
Hoeryong, “Do not roam around unnecessarily after 7pm”
The Security Bureau of Hoeryong City, North Hamgyong Province announced residents through the heads of Neighborhood Unit to restrict outdoor activities after 7 pm in response to increasing crimes of robbery and murder. According to the Security Bureau’s announcement, robbers specializing in fraud from Chung-Jin infiltrated to the city, so residents should take precautions by refraining from roaming around and checking the doors. The Bureau official also emphasized that those who offer accommodation to non-resident relatives and strangers for money will be punished by being sent to the reeducation center.

ChungJin, Helpless at the Continuous Occurrence of Murder Cases
The Security Bureau of Chungjin, North Hamgyong is bogged down with the rapidly increasing robbery and murder cases on top of the extreme poverty rate. Around 9p.m. on March 4th, a murder occurred in Songpyung district. Myung-Chul Kim of Nam-Hyang Town, Po Hang District was discovered dead, beaten hard on the head. According to his family, Mr. Kim left home on his bike and the missing bicycle seems to indicate it has been stolen. Although the police officers of the Security Bureau of Songpyung District have issued warrants to catch the murderer and started investigation and interviewed ex-convicts in the area, there has been no progress. Furthermore, due to the inundation of murder cases, there are many cases that are left untouched. As they recognize lack of manpower as the cause of this problem, the Security Bureau of North Hamgyong is looking for solutions with which to increase the number of patrol officers per area as well as adding more patrol units.

[Society]
“Do Not Get food from Someone Else’s House”
Jeoung-hee Lee (alias) is a middle school teacher living in Soonchun, South Pyongan Province. Seeing that school attendance has been decreasing due to food shortages, she took a simple survey in her class, asking her students to raise their hands if they eat porridge at home for sustenance. Half of the class raised their hands. Lee said that she urged her students to never beg for food at someone else’s household during a time of crisis. She taught her students that it is now unscrupulous for one to even eat at a close friend’s house. Lee said “although it is meant to be a joke, there is a saying that men nowadays may drink liquor at their friend’s house, but not eat a grain,” and reflected on the direness of the food shortages.

The Poor Need Help, but Everyone is in the Same Situation
The heads of the neighborhood unit are having troubles as the national government ordered to help the poor. They complain "Everyone is on the same boat. Who can help whom? We take all the blame from people because we have to urge people to contribute to help the poor." Han Sun-wha (alias), the head of the neighborhood unit in Soonchun City, South Pyongan Province, said that she feels uncomfortable by the fact that she is in charge of collecting non-tax payment given that most households are poor. Regarding the situation of her neighbors, she comments as follows:

"There is one of the poorest families in my neighborhood whose head of the household died last night. He had starved for many days and died from hunger. Officers were shocked with how poor they were when they visited the family. The household is so poor that their daughter could not visit them after giving birth. She instead survived with boiled corn. At the village office morning meeting, the officer ordered to provide 80Kg of rice and some coal to the family. We also confronted the officer, 'We have nothing to give away. How could we manage to survive if we continue to help the poor? We'd better let them find the way to survive by themselves. We do not have enough food for ourselves. How could we help others?' Central party officials give orders to village office, and the village officer to the head of the neighborhood unit. However, the head of the unit cannot help but doing nothing because they have nothing. Those who died recently did not have any health problem. They just died from hunger. There is no way to help the poor as we are all in the same situation. The other day, we helped the poor by providing 5Kg of crushed maize, but they kept expecting more help later. It is like filling a bottomless jar. How could we keep helping others in this situation? I helped them even though I was in a bad situation as well. I felt bad when they asked us more help. I would rather quit the position as the head of the neighborhood unit."

[Women/Children/Education]
Many Children Abandoned in front of Hamheung City Orphanage
The orphanage of Hamheung City in South Hamgyong Province has seen a rise in the number of women who want to leave their child. The orphanage says that although they understand the mothers’ dire situation, due to the food shortage the institution cannot take care of the additional children, some of whom are infants or toddlers. The orphanage accepted seven infants in the last month already and the number of applicants continues to increase. The orphanage began to insist that mothers not leave their young children, saying “We cannot take infants.” Since starting the strict policy of refusing to accept young children, mothers have begun leaving their babies in front of the orphanage without entering the building. Between mid-February and early March, nine babies have been abandoned in this fashion. Older children are becoming kkotjebis, homeless young people who have no choice but to beg and try to live on their own. Beginning in January, the number of Kkotjebis near Chupyong Market began to increase. As of the end of March, there are around 30 such homeless children.

[Accidents]
Two Pyongyang Residents Murdered at Wonsan Station
On the night of February 26th, a man and a woman from Pyongyang were murdered in front of an outdoor restaurant at Wonsan Station in Kangwon Province. The man was killed immediately after being deeply stabbed with a knife and the woman died two hours after she had been rushed to the hospital. Investigation has shown that the victims were merchants who sold roll films and picture printing papers, and were likely to have been robbed of approximately three thousand dollars worth of merchandise. The local safety bureau is currently looking for eyewitnesses, and at the same time investigating people who had contact with the victims, thinking it might be possible for an acquaintance to have committed the crime. However, the case has yet to be solved.

[Investigative Report]
Four Reasons Causing Deaths by Starvation in 2010
North Korea is undergoing a difficult period this year with food shortages and a lack of resources, unstable prices caused by excessive inflation, and soaring crime rates, especially robbery and murders. The most troublesome issue is that people are dying from starvation even before the lean spring season begins. Why is this happening? This report aims to identify the reasons and summarize them in four major points.

1. Ban on small plot farming and trade
The first reason causing starvation among North Koreans is the continued ban on small land patch farming and peddling activities. Since the Arduous March, city workers managed to survive without a salary and a food distribution system by cultivating small land patches for private farming or conducting small scale peddling. As they were able to support themselves without government help, the government began confiscating private land and tried to restrict trade, citing the need to control workers who no longer went to their employment sites. In 2005, the government announced that it would start food distribution again, but in 2006 it confiscated small farm land patches and prohibited private six-month farming in 2007. The ban on private farming was not easy to enforce, but it continued throughout 2008 and 2009.

The ban on peddling and markets continued in the same manner. The government introduced an age restriction on peddlers in 2007 and expanded the ban on markets from last year, exemplified by the closure of the Pyongsung market. Moreover, the 150-day battle was extended into another 100-day battle, restricting the market and private farming by mobilizing people to serve in various labor stations. City dwellers survived by small private farming and trading, but all such activities were prohibited.

Households with some cash managed to survive, but poor households ran out of food as early as June and July 2009. On top of this, the currency reform exacerbated the situation, pushing the middle class and traders with capital into poverty. Everybody suffered from the situation, and nobody was selling food in the market. Food became scarcer, and death from starvation spread nationwide starting with the poorest households.

2. Farmers with cash withholding rice from the market
Second, cash was distributed to farmers, but there was still no food distribution to workers in cities. Farmers encountered great difficulties because of disastrous floods in 2006 and 2007. As a result, many farmers in rural areas died while others suffered from diseases and malnutrition in 2008.

By distributing 15,000 NK won per person to farmers, the government tried to raise their living standards. However, this had negative consequences in the rice market. Farmers used to sell in the market some of their food rations they received after the harvest to buy some necessities. This year, however, farmers did not have to sell their food in the market thanks to the cash they received after the currency reform. Now that they have free cash to buy items they need, there was no reason for them to sell scarce food. This explains why there is no food at all to be traded in the city. The cash distribution helped farmers who did not have money to buy necessities, but the consequence is the market imbalance that has hurt city workers disproportionately.

3. No fertilizer and discontinued foreign aid
The third reason is the discontinuance of foreign aid and a low agricultural yield caused by a lack of fertilizer and bad weather conditions. After the Arduous March, North Korea received hundreds of thousand tons of foreign rice and 300,000 to 400,000 tons of fertilizer from South Korea. If the fertilizer received from China and Russia is counted along with the supply the North government bought itself, the North had over 800,000 tons of fertilizer every year.

However, the newly inaugurated Lee Myung-bak administration in South Korea in 2008 suspended its fertilizer aid to the North, which greatly affected North Korea’s agriculture. The North was dependent on the South’s fertilizer aid, and now it could not fill the gap with its own fertilizer production. The North tried to distribute whatever it managed to collect from human manure and green scrap, but such supplies did not help much. Moreover, the cold spell last spring delayed the sowing season, and the summer drought culminated in a much lower yield than the 2008 level. Discontinued food aid from South Korea and the U.S. and a reduction in international food aid exacerbated the food supply.

4. The currency reform accelerated the rate of death by starvation
Finally, the recent currency reform can be seen as the direct cause of all of these problems. Even without the reform, widespread hunger and deaths from starvation was anticipated. The currency reform triggered starvation deaths earlier and contributed to its spread across the nation. It worsened serious problems so that there is no other way out of this situation unless a special measure is implemented.

Park Nam-gi, Minister of National Planning and Financial Affairs, advocated the currency reform following his analysis of national reports from all regions. He concluded that the country had sufficient food stock and ration materials for three years. The North’s official estimate of last year’s agricultural yield is four million tons. However, this was a flawed estimate because it was based on false reports in the first place. Officials in agriculture understand that the true yield of last year was much lower than the estimate.

The four points outlined above illustrate that the situation in North Korea is reaching a boiling point. The desperate food situation in North Korea is causing people to turn their backs on the government and threatens to become dangerous. Social disorder with increasing rates of murder, robbery, and collective protest is also on the rise. The North Korean authorities should reflect on their problems closely and find solutions quickly.

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