Various voices have of late proclaimed that North Korea is in serious need of food aid. Some have been international, like the WFP, and some, like Supreme People’s Assembly Permanent Chairperson Choi Tae Bok, domestic.
North Korea, which has not offered concrete details about last year’s yields or explained precisely where it is in need of assistance, simply suggests that if there is no outside assistance, there is the danger of starvation.
And yet in the midst of this, a source from inside North Korea has informed The Daily NK that the price of rice in the country’s markets is holding firm at 1500-1800 won per kilogram, not even close to recent highs.
Furthermore, defectors who frequently make contact with people inside North Korea also seem untroubled, saying that this is not a particularly pressing situation.
One such defector, a 37-year old born in Sinuiju called Hwang, said, “I called my parents a few days ago, and they said ‘As long as you have money, you can buy as much rice in the market as you want. Some households are struggling with the spring shortages, but nobody is near the stage of eating porridge made from grasses.’”
Another born in Yangkang Province, Hong agreed, adding, “When I call my family and ask about food, they say ‘As long as you have money, you can take your pick of the rice’, and went on, “Mid-level people are eating three meals of potato, corn and barley rice per day, and those for whom it is difficult are eating one meal of wheat flour noodles.”
50-year old Jae explained why current difficulties seem to be under control, saying, “During the March of Tribulation, people were hit by the sudden cutting of those supplies from the state which had been guaranteed. But now it’s different. The March of Tribulation forced people to learn how to live, and the people now expect nothing from the state and survive on their own.”
Indeed, most defectors seem to believe the North Korean authorities’ main reason for calling for aid is primarily in order to build inventories in advance of next year; i.e. to both provide for the appearance of a Strong and Prosperous State and help cement the Kim Jong Eun succession.
“This is not the first time we’ve heard that North Korea is in danger from a food crisis,” Hong pointed out when asked about this. “And yet even in 2008 North Korea did not beg for food, when things were worse than they are now. There is a high chance that North Korea’s ‘food diplomacy’ is for the establishment of the Kim Jong Eun system.”
Still another defector, 43-year old Hyun from North Pyongan Province agreed, saying, “North Korea has been throwing out propaganda about ‘opening the gate to the Strong and Prosperous State’ in 2012, which will be the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung. It could be that North Korea wants to solve its food problems as part of the propaganda drive to complete the Kim Jong Eun ruling system.”
Lee, a teacher from North Hamkyung Province simply added, “It’s because of the ‘Strong and Prosperous State’ promise that they made.”
It is important to note that aside from the ubiquitous words ‘Strong and Prosperous State’, North Korea has also placed improving the people’s material lives at the forefront of public state strategy for the last two years straight, and hopes to chalk up any visible improvements in that area to Kim Jong Eun. Defectors assert with one voice that this is why the authorities are unwilling to permit any outside groups to distribute aid inside the country.
