[imText1]Since the North Korean government announced that it would resume food rationing last October, control over selling cereals in Jangmadang (a kind of black market) has been tight. The tight control seems to have caused much trouble between security agents and people.

Sapio, a Japanese bi-weekly magazine, reported, in the last issue of December, “People are full of complaints because they cannot receive their food rations which have been promised by the government, nor buy cereals in markets. That has caused much trouble between the people and the security agents.”

Sapio also disclosed, “Because North Korean food rationing is delayed, and whether it will really start again is questionable, workers complaints are getting high.”

Mr. Choi from Kim Cheak city of North Hamkyung Province said, “Since the ban on selling rice and corn was lifted, security agents have imposed heavy fines on those who sold cereals in markets. If one could not pay his fine, all his cereals were confiscated.” However, it is said that after the 10th of December when the anniversary ceremony of the Party was held, people have stealthily sold cereals around markets in connivance with the security agents.

That’s because security agents tacitly approve illegal cereal trade after they came to know that there is no place to obtain cereals except markets.

Like Kim Cheak city, people experience much trouble with security agents in Dancheon city of South Hamkyeong Province.

In Dancheon, even beans were not allowed to be sold, not to mention rice and corn, which caused severe trouble between the people and the security agents. The control over rice and corn was so tight that more and more people were buying beans. The security agents started to impose fines even on those buying beans.

Residents of Dancheon city filed a complaint with the city authorities against the fine by claiming that beans were side dishes, not the staple food. The security agency accepted their claim and no more trouble occurred between them.

Moreover, the so-called file rearrangement in which the crops produced by small private patches are offset by national rations is being carried out.

“300g of corn was harvested in my small patch this year. A city officer came and said 300g of corn was assumed to be rationed to me. He said it was equivalent to a 6 month ration by the government. I had to cross over a hill to farm in the patch 6km away from here everyday. It was absurd to suddenly hear that my harvest is the ration assigned to me by the government.” grumbled Mr. Choi.

North Korea announced that it would resume food rationing just before the 60th anniversary of the Chosun Workers’ Party on the 10th of last October. The ration for a worker is 700g of cereals while the ration for one of his family members is 300-500g. However, it seems that people are not regularly rationed.