[imText1]Upgraded pentium computers are sold at the price range of 300,000 – 1,500,000 North Korean Won ($120-$500 USD) said a Chinese tradesman who frequently visits North Korea, on Feb 22.
Mr. Wang Wei, a Chinese who does trade in North Pyongan regions including cities like Pyongyang and Shinuiju said, “In Shinuiju, Pentium 3 computers cost between 360,000Won and 1,000,000Won and Pentium 4 range between 600,000Won and 1,500,000Won. It was surprising to see that there are people who buy them despite such prices.”
An average worker’s wage is anywhere between 2,000Won~20,000Won, depending on the level of labor, and the exchange rate is about 3,000Won to $1 USD. In rough calculation, in order to buy a computer, a high paid worker has to save every penny of his wage for two to six years.
– Who are those who buy the computers?
“Although I do not know for sure, there is rarely any who buys a computer for private purposes. Unless he is very rich, you do not need a computer at home in North Korea. Usually they are schools, state enterprises, and research institutions who buy the computers to fill the allotted number of computers.”
– What do you mean by the allotted number of computers?
“It seems like the state ordered each school, state enterprise, and research institution to possess a certain number of computers, but they have not given them a budget. Yet they ordered to “obtain them in possible ways.” It seems like each institution does its own foreign currency earning activities to buy the computers.”
– How many do they buy?
“Usually one to two.”
– Do they pay in cash?
“I received cash no matter what, but I heard some people also received wasted metal or crops. For the institutions, usually they order with the options they want, so the sellers bring the computers with the orders met from China.”
– What are the computers usually for?
“I do not know. Since they do not have internet, probably only for typing.”
– Do they sell printers as well?
“I never thought of selling printers. I am sure those institutions with computers have printers, but I too wonder what they do when they run out of ink. Since North Korea is a country “that makes its own living” it probably produces its own ink. (laugh).”
Internal sources in North Korea say, “Although North Korea has conducted education on computers, most of the students have never seen a computer and in many cases they draw the key board and practice typing on them.” They say most recently, each school has one to two computers with Pentium.
“The computers sold in North Korea are fixed ones with those considered as wasted in China,” and because they make fare margins, selling computers in North Korea makes a “good business” according to Mr. Wang.
Mr. Wang also informed that due to the high inflation, the value of cash in North Korea is rapidly dropping. “A first-class hotel in Shinuiju costs 390,000Won ($130 USD) a night, second-class is 360,000Won ($120 USD) and third-class is 150,000Won ($50 USD).” Common lodging in Pyongyang costs about 90,000Won ($30 USD) a night.
