After severe flooding damaged agricultural areas along the North Korean border in North Pyongan province in late July, collective farms are organizing an all-hands effort to save crops. Even farm workers’ children are being mobilized, causing frustration for many parents.
“The provincial authorities have ordered that all available workers be mobilized to save the flooded farmland, under the slogan of not giving up an inch of land or a grain of rice,” a source in North Pyongan province told Daily NK on Aug. 9, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The orders hinted that farm workers should bring their children to help.
After some brought young children — some under 15 — to help straighten waterlogged corn and rice, other workers feel pressured to do the same.
The source quoted a Yomju county farm worker: “Since everyone is bringing their children, not following suit would make me look delinquent in implementing party policy. I feel bad for my kids, but I have no choice but to bring them with me to work.”
Most mobilized children are reportedly 13 to 17. They prop up fallen rice plants and drive stakes to support corn plants.
“Parents feel awful about having to yell at their drowsy children to get them out of bed in the early morning hours and drag them along to the worksite,” the source said.
“Farm workers feel sorry that their children are being mobilized for the flood recovery work when they already have to help out with rice transplantation, weeding, and the fall harvest. The parents resent the fact that their kids have so much work to do,” the source added.
The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s ruling party newspaper, reported July 31 that around 3,000 jongbo (about 30 million square meters) had been flooded in Uiju county and Sinuiju city alone.
The actual flooded area was presumably larger, as heavy rain reportedly affected other parts of northern North Pyongan province.
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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