Facing a shortage in funds for operation, a
cattle farm in South Pyongan Province that caters to the highest echelons in
North Korea including leader Kim Jong Un is illicitly putting cows on the
market, Daily NK has learned.
“The (Eungbong) Juseok Farm is in charge of
raising livestock such as cows, pigs, and ducks for Kim Jong Un and the people
of highest ranks in the country,” a source in South Pyongan Province told Daily
NK on Sunday. “But recently, it’s been illegally selling cows to try to overcome
difficulties in management.”
This information was verified by an
additional source in the same province.
Party cadres or donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More [new affluent middle
class] who seek out beef to get a boost in nutrients work with cadres from Ungok
and Juseok Ranch to buy large cows for up to 700 USD or smaller ones for about
500 USD, according to the source. With an increase in demand, those behind the
illicit sales are now conducting trade in a more open manner.
Cows in the North were long off limits
for individual ownership, deemed emergency tools
under wartime operations and means of production on collective farms. In the past, the state penalized people, in severe cases with the death penalty, for individual rearing or selling of cows. More recently, however, in a welcome and fortunate turn of events, such draconian practices were lifted, allowing people to raise and trade cattle under relaxed regulations.
Consequently, demand for beef is on the rise, particularly by people suffering from cirrhosis and hepatitis desperate in search of sources of solid protein to boost
energy levels and regenerate liver tissue. Juseok Farm boasts some of the
highest-quality stock available in the North and the deluge of requests pouring
in from the donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More and Party cadres suggests such claims are founded.
“All livestock that comes from Juseok Farm
are raised on certified all-natural feed, so not only are they germ-free, the
texture is very tender and juicy. Anyone who has tried it considers it to be
the best meat,” she said. “This kind of beef is hard to buy on the market, and
you can only get it if you have connections with the farm cadres.”
Despite loosened regulations on the sale of cows and more people keen to try out beef, supplies are lacking at
the markets. For the beef that appears every now and then, donjuLiterally "masters of money," donju refers to people who hav... More usually think
of it as being import beef or meat from a diseased cow [before the relaxed regulations, consumption of meat from cows who died of disease was permitted] , so they tend to turn their noses up at it.
“Just until recently, if you wanted to buy
a cow from the Juseok Farm you would have to pay bribes to affiliated Ministry
of People’s Security units and also those at any number of guard
posts,” the source said. “But all you have to do now is hand over 700 USD in
cash without additional bribes and the accounting manager will give you a pass
to sail through the guard posts on the spot.”
So far, the new operations seem well on the
fast track to overcoming fiscal and management constraints previously gumming
up operations at the ranch. Tacit approval handed down by managers for these illicit deals
have already provided funds for new hires and machinery, she said, noting, “For
Juseok Farm, the greenlight on raising and trading cows has presented them with a golden opportunity to make money.”
*The content of this article was broadcast to the North Korean people via Unification Media Group.
