Capitalist traits in North Korea continue to penetrate various aspects of people¡¯s daily lives. There is now a pizza restaurant found outside of Pyongyang, and another in Suncheon, South Pyongan Province, taxi services have emerged, and pricey private tutoring is on the rise. Adding to this trend is news of drinking water being sold in markets. 

A source from South Pyongan Province reported to Daily NK on September 29th, ¡°Just up until a few years ago, here [in the North] people would say in capitalist countries you even have to buy your own water, but that has now become a reality for North Koreans as well, adding that when there is a demand, supply naturally follows.

¡°There is a new market for spring water that is picking up,¡± she went on. ¡°Men who don¡¯t have money to open a business are selling spring water to save seed money for the future.¡±

North Korea¡¯s derelict water supply system lacks adequate filtering, rendering it deficient in providing drinking water. This is why Party cadres and the donju [the new affluent middle class] buy drinking water, while most others drink from the river or wells. Inminban [people¡¯s unit] or individuals often use underground water by digging 7 to 12 meters under the surface and installing pumps.

However, as people living nearby public restrooms, or areas with contaminated underground water suffer from enteritis, an inflammation of the small intestine brought on by ingesting food or water contaminated with bacteria, and other illnesses, the dangers of the groundwater have been exposed.

The North produces its own spring water called "Sindeok Saemmul," but it is monopolized by Chosun Neungnado Trade Company and exported to Southeast Asian countries without ever entering circulation  in local markets. Those who work at foreign-currency earning enterprises, trading companies, and the donju import drinking water from China.

One 0.5-liter bottle from China costs roughly 0.8 RMB or 1,000 KPW at Sinuiju Market and sells for 1 RMB at Pyongsong Market. This trend has spawned a new group of merchants who fetch spring water from the mountains to put out for sale.

¡°Clever people have already figured out that drinking water can make them money and are selling it now,¡± the source said.  ¡°These merchants have been advertising their water as coming from deep in the mountains, incomparable to that from China, and having medicinal qualities.¡±

According to the source, there has been spring water in Chonsongri, Eunsan County, in South Pyongan Province that has been referred to as medicinal water since the nation was under Japanese colonial rule. It was also known as ¡°Emperor spring water¡± among the locals, as the Japanese Emperor was the only person allowed to drink from the precious source.

Thanks to this longstanding belief, demand for bottled water from China has dwindled, while Chonsong spring water has seen its sales jump. As a result, the source reported waits of a 10-hour minimum to draw this spring water in Chonsong.

¡°It is roughly 40 km from Chonsong to Pyongsong Market, and 20 km to Suncheon Market,¡± she explained, adding, ¡°This is why men who do not have enough money to start their own business have been working exhaustively to make that seed money and are reaping in good profits.¡±

Chonsong spring water is 600 KPW for 1 liter, but is sold in containers similar to oil cans in 5-liter quantities for 3,000 KPW. Compared to bottled water from China, which is 1,300 KPW for half a liter, it is a quarter the price.

The source asserted that water from China is something only the donju can afford, but spring water from Chonsong is affordable for even those who get by on a daily basis by selling goods at the market, explaining why roughly 30 percent of residents there buy spring water.  

¡°Water merchants are usually men, and they travel 40 km a day, transporting 100 to 150 kg of water,¡± she said. ¡°The market is expected to grow, because people who have tried Chonsong spring water at least once, stop drinking the water from China.¡±

Many are already concerned about their role in the burgeoning industry, ¡°With the growing market for drinking water, people are worried that powerful foreign currency earning companies will take over this field as well,¡± she concluded.