North Koreans have been offering bribes in U.S. dollars as they vie for positions at a new trading company set up under the North’s Ministry of Natural Resources Development, Daily NK has learned.
“Following the establishment of a new trading company to earn foreign exchange under the Ministry of Natural Resources Development in Unsan County, the personnel departments of the county and provincial party committees directly responsible for filling positions have been raking in dollars,” a source in South Pyongan Province told Daily NK on Feb. 8, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
According to the source, the cost of a bribe for a position in the trading company has recently risen 40% from USD 1,000 to USD 1,400. Nonetheless, North Koreans are eagerly making the rounds of county and provincial party committee cadres, trying to get a foot in the door.
Trading companies under the Ministry of Natural Resources Development are said to earn a significant amount of foreign exchange from the export of mineral resources, generally coal and rare earths.
As a result, North Koreans are focused on the money-making potential of these positions and encourage each other to spend large, even lavish, sums of money in hopes of winning one of these jobs.
“Basically, North Koreans see whether or not they can get into a trading company as a matter of life and death. They assume that it will determine whether they can escape their financial difficulties and live a life of ease. So they are doing everything in their power not to miss this golden opportunity,” the source said.
“I have to get a position, no matter how many wheels I have to grease,” one North Korean person was quoted as saying. “This is a gravy train I can’t afford to miss,” said another.
The hiring process for the trading company consists of two stages. The first is an interview with the human resources department of the Unsan County Party Committee, and the second is an interview with the human resources department of the South Pyongan Provincial Party Committee after the Lunar New Year.
“The interview with the personnel department of the Unsan County Party Committee officially began on Jan. 18. Applicants had to pay USD 700, half of the USD 1,400 total, just to get their documents to the personnel department, and then pay the other half before their interview with the department if they wanted a chance to get a job. North Koreans with money to spend have been scrambling to apply,” the source said.
Officials at the county and provincial human resources departments accept only U.S. dollars as bribes for positions at the trading companies.
According to the source, this has elicited the following cynical comments from the community:
“If the U.S. is our sworn enemy, why do they put so much stock in the U.S. currency?”
“The dollar can do what our forefathers could not.”
“Even the government can’t deny the power of the almighty dollar.
“We’re going to see a lot of bravado from dollar holders this year.”
Translated by David Carruth. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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