Daily NK has learned that, because the state even failed to provide adequate provisions to sites in Pyongyang and surrounding areas for recent civilian evacuation drills, many incidences of persons deserting shelters in pursuit of food or losing consciousness in situ occurred.

An inside source from the North Korean capital reported the news to Daily NK on the 19th, saying, “The authorities started telling us in lectures that ‘war will definitely occur’ way back in mid-March. Even in Pyongyang they conducted air raid exercises at least three times in March alone.”

According to the source, the authorities told people the duration of each training period, anything up to four days, but did not mention food or drink. Some people brought sustenance anyway, but others didn’t, and ended up in physical difficulties.

“People who live day-to-day were simply incapable of preparing that amount of food for themselves, even if they had wanted to” the source added. “When there was nothing more to eat some of them left to find food or ended up being carried out after fainting.”

“Obviously, having learned that some people had been unable to bring food, a few guys even started selling it nearby,” the source added. “Some were caught selling water for something like 10,000 won per cup and loaves of bread for 50,000 won, and they were then banished from the city.”

However, the source reported that life in Pyongyang is now as normal, with markets operating well and workers attending their companies. The authorities also gave out five days of rations in early April, the source noted, causing the market price of rice to decline to 5,000 won.

However, North Korea is approaching the period of hardship known as the ‘Barley Hump’, when existing food stocks have been exhausted but no new food has yet ripened in the fields. In the absence of imported food, it is traditionally a period of difficulty for civilians, although the markets ameliorate the suffering for those in a position to use them.