Daily NK Snapshots are synopses of select articles from our Korean website. Snapshots provide a window into the Daily NK’s reporting—domestic news items that are primarily intended for a North Korean audience given their lack of an independent, objective source of information—and into everyday life and society within North Korea for international audiences.
Gold Reserves Being Tapped for Foreign Currency
North Korea’s gold reserves are being targeted in an attempt to make up for falling foreign currency inflows caused by COVID-19. Due to the recent drop in trade between China and North Korea, some institutions tasked with bringing in foreign currency are being accused of colluding with mine workers to steal gold. One of the mines currently under investigation is in Unsan County, where North Korea’s largest gold mine is located. This recent shift towards gold has two explanations. Firstly, those charged with bringing in foreign currency must still fulfill their quotas despite the sudden virus outbreak, meaning they must find foreign currency from somewhere. Second, the price of gold has risen by nearly 10% since December due to instability caused by COVID-19. The buying and selling of gold by unauthorized organizations and individuals is prohibited in North Korea.
Full article in Korean by Mun Dong Hui here.
Masks Required for All Wonsan-Kalma Construction Site Workers
Despite the COVID-19 situation, the North Korean government is pushing ahead full steam with its Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone construction project. This has resulted in much anxiety among construction workers on site, with many fearing they may contract the virus. Their work has become even more difficult due to mandatory use of face masks. This makes breathing less easy and the arduous physical labor even more tiring. Nevertheless, Daily NK sources reported that workers are adamant about keeping their masks on, lest they catch the deadly virus.
Full article in Korean by Jang Seul Gi here.
Stopping the Coronavirus through Self-reliance
North Korean citizens are coming up with creative ways to try and stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities, Daily NK sources have reported. Although the government is doing its best to ramp up production of medical supplies and disinfectants, the quantity is not nearly enough to supply the entire country. As such, citizens have taken it upon themselves to come up with unconventional ways of staying as safe as possible. Burning sulfur, cleaning with salt water, and disinfecting with vinegar are just some of the methods being used. Such behavior has been praised as being a great example of self-reliance despite difficult circumstances.
Full article in Korean by Kang Mi Jin here.
“Crash Landing On You” Makes a Splash in North Korea
South Korea’s recent hit drama “Crash Landing on You” has made its way into North Korea and locals have already started sharing their reviews of the series. Due to the COVID-19 situation, smuggling USBs with foreign content into the country has become more difficult. Given this, more content is being smuggled through Chinese phones via apps like WeChat. Although the drama has received mixed reviews, most have been positive. Many North Koreans are reportedly pleased by how the drama portrayed the daily lives of ordinary people and also praised the accuracy of scenes involving jangmadang (local markets). Some North Koreans pointed out, however, that the characters from Kaesong were speaking in a dialect found in Ryanggang Province; this detail was likely overlooked by South Korean producers of the hit show.
Full article in Korean by Jeong Tae Ju here.
Please direct any comments or questions about this article to dailynkenglish@uni-media.net.
