Although conditions in some of North Korea’s orphanages have improved for the country’s homeless children (known as kkotjebi), inadequate food supplies and a general lack of capacity have forced many to migrate to other areas in search of shelter.
Those in the northerly and coldest provinces of North Hamgyong and Ryanggang have been moving to Tonchon and Hamhung in South Hamgyong Province, seeking a milder climate to ride out the winter.
“The number of homeless children in Tonchon and Hamhung has increased significantly this winter. Most of them are from Chongjin and Hyesan. The local police are trying to process them all and have been totally overwhelmed by the numbers,” a source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK.
The average daytime temperature is five degrees higher in South Hamgyong Province when compared to the northerly provinces of Ryanggang and North Hamgyong.
“The authorities ordered mobilizations to gather resources for facilities to house the young homeless population but it ended up being only in a few places–definitely not enough,” the source added.
With many already at capacity in these other areas, most facilities cannot accommodate new intakes and are sending them back to their point of origin. “They should find a way to make some sort of temporary facilities but they haven’t done a thing,” a separate source in South Hamgyong Province said.
“Vendors working at Tonchon Market and Kwangchon Market are really worried about their goods being stolen with the influx of kkotjebi. A lot of them are in their mid-to-late teens and move in groups. The local police often try to get them to work at construction sites but they cause way too much trouble and most just quit and leave. It’s a real mess.”
