“Even though it is a workplace, they don’t give either wages nor food. I am trudging with heavy feet today as well. There is nothing to do but there is no other alternative if I want to avoid being dragged to a labor camp.” (a citizen in Pyongsung, South Pyongan Province)
“Since it is the period when the seeds are sprouting, mountains are crowded of children and elders who try to collect wild vegetables.” (A citizen in South Hamkyung Province)
Around this time of year, when the spring mean season comes, North Korea’s vulnerable classes are fighting desperately against hunger. However, as a chronic economic crisis coincides with the aftermath of the currency redenomination implemented in late 2009, the people face a far more difficult situation. The North’s regime requested 430,000 tons of food as emergency aid following an on-site examination by World Food Programme (WFP).
Some food aid NGOs assert that the horrors of great famine in late 1990s may return, sooner or later. However, Daily NK inside sources commented that there is no possibility of a repeat of the famine, since food has been supplied and prices are stabilized as well.
However, since the conditions of the poor and destitute are going steadily downhill, there is a reported possibility that a portion of the vulnerable classes are dying of malnutrition.
The minimum cost of living, for a family of four, is estimated to be about 50,000 won. The cost of food and side dishes are 35,000 won and purchase of necessities like clothing costs approximately 10,000 won. Other expenses are the costs of social fees such as quasi taxes and miscellaneous expenses.
A defector stated, “Among the North Korean citizens, a considerable amount of people in the poorest groups of society are those workers who do not receive salaries, senior citizens who live alone, and children without parents. In addition, there are many who lose their will to live. There are also those who went bankrupt or are being scammed. Additionally a considerable amount of people are accustomed to begging for food.”
This North Korean defector stated that, “Of 100 families living in any neighborhood, only a couple of families fell under the category of destitute and poor. But, since the currency redenomination, this figure has recently increased to four or five families.” There are many workers who have a job which does not give any salary or distribution. They have to go to work even if there is nothing to do. If not, they are a subject to be sent to labor camp (for six months of imprisonment) or receive ideology reeducation for certain period.
If they receive the official approval to leave their workplace and to make money maybe through the jangmadang, they have to pay one month’s salary as severance. That amounts to 30,000 won. People who do not have fixed stalls cannot make this money easily, but they cannot borrow the money either. Therefore, this “vicious cycle of poverty” occurs among the impoverished.
The average monthly wage of a North Korean worker is about 4,000 won. Currently, rice is sold for 1,500 won and corn is for 600 won in the jangmadang. If the assumption is that each member of family of four consumes about 500g daily (700g according to North Korean authorities’ food distribution standard), the cost of purchasing two kilograms of rice would be 3,000 won and the same amount of corn is 1,200 won. Even if they survive on corn, it can only last for three days.
A source from Onsung, North Hamkyung Province reported on April 19th that, “Those who are in a dire situation are roaming around mountains whole day to pluck herbs. Since they do not have enough rice for one meal a day, they cook all kinds of wild vegetables or some roots with corn powder and eat it as porridge.”
Another source from Musan, North Hamkyung Province commented that ‘Food businesses’, in alley markets or along small streams, are possible even for those who do not have enough money to start it. Defectors say that with a few dozen thousand won they can begin to run a food business on a small scale.
However, in the case of the vulnerable classes, people even cannot afford to do such business, so they commonly say that, “living is hardship.”
The source in Sinpo, South Hamkyung Province reported that, “The March of Tribulation is endless. Since now is the period for seeds to sprout, children and elders are flocking to mountains to pluck wild vegetables. People feel sorry as the corpses of a brother and sister (14 year old girl and 11 year old boy), who ate poisonous herbs, were discussed in front of the station few days ago.”
North Korean citizens, who maintained their livelihood by conducting small scale of businesses at the jangmadang, are also facing difficulties as the volume of trade in the market has been reduced recently. As the possessed capital is being reduced in the aftermath of currency redenomination, purchasing power has also decreased.
In addition, the source reported, “Recently, people do not conduct the business like in the past so citizens are frugal with their money. People, who conduct a small business, are eating corn with rice three times a day, but those who cannot go to the market barely have around two meals of corn per day.”
Also, the source commented that, “Overall prices went down however, as products are not being sold, there are many people who go home empty handed in the evening since they could not sell their wares.”
A source in North Hamkyung Province reported, “The amount of rice in the market is similar to the previous year but there are no consumers. So sellers slashed the price of rice. Now, people buy old corn rather than rice. They are purchasing corn to live even though business is not going well. Even those who had solid business and ate well are now consuming rice and corn in the ratio of five to five for their meals.”
Mr. Lee, a Korean Chinese living in Changbai (China), while doing business by travelling to North Korea, stated that, “North Korean citizens are not purchasing much after the currency redenomination. Private travelers (Chinese businessmen), who were bringing industrial goods (clothing, shoes, cosmetics) to North Korea, are facing difficulties as their products are not being sold.”
In addition, he said, “Since the used product is cheaper than the new one, people looking for used goods have increased. Recently people who smuggle used clothing from South Korea are making money. Generally, people do not have money and are sparing with what they have.”
However, the extravagant activities of the rich continue. Mink fur became prevalent among the women of cadres’ family since last year. Children of these families are wearing Li Ning (China’s sportswear brand) parka coats and sneakers produced in China.
Due to the worsening economic situation and widening gap between the rich and the poor, a voice of complaint is being raised. Regarding the phenomenon of gap between the rich and the poor getting wider, people say that, “Women of the rich families are going on a picnic while wearing valenki (which means long leather boots, originated from Russian boots) while we are going to collect wild herbs to cook the herb porridge.”
