Daily NK - 21st Century Feudalism

Since 2006, raising rabbits has become common in North Korea. A public order now dictates that everyone must contribute 4 sheets of rabbits’ fur every year. In response, several farms have been converted into rabbit farms, displacing production facilities for rice, corn, and cereals. In some cases the military assisted with the conversions. In each of the Pyongyang districts and Kangdong-gun, Seungho. Kangsan-gun, and Sangwon-gun, 7or 8 farms have been constructed according to the Daily NK’s inside sources.

Residents must raise rabbits at home and dedicate the fur to the government. If the rabbits cannot be raised at home, the fur should be bought at the Janmadang (markets), then given to the government. Therefore, the price of rabbit fur has risen from 800 won to 4,000~5,000won (US$1.4~1.7).

Rabbit fur is not the only material that people have to dedicate to the regime. Other mandated offerings to the Dear Leader include 0.35g of alluvial gold, dog skin (costs 18,000~20,000 won), 35kg of pork, and 10kg of corn every year. These items are not counted as national tax income but instead as presents to Kim Jong Il. 10kg of corn is called “Pheasant fodder.” “No. 1 fodder” because it is livestock feed for the animals consumed by Kim Jong Il.

In medieval times the system of ownership assumed that the land, its produce, and the people themselves were essentially property of a king. To present precious goods to the king was the natural duty of each citizen. Following the collapse of social classes and the beginning the democracy, taxes were substituted for presents to the king and were used by citizens to manage their communities.

In North Korea, however, presents to the king are still required, though the regime declares that social classes no longer exist. People dedicate their meat, produce, and fur to the Dear Leader while their children go hungry and under clothed.

It is our hope that democracy and a free market system come to North Korea soon. Its citizenry must be freed from disgorging their private property and allowed to regain control of their nation’s destiny.