The North Korean state media has been announcing production
achievements that are allegedly occurring at the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex on
a daily basis, as the spring agricultural season is set to begin. However,
sources on the ground report that the fertilizers produced are not reaching the
farmers who desperately need them.
“As spring approaches, vendors in the markets have
begun selling various types of fertilizer, but nothing from Hungnam can be
seen. People are remarking that Hungnam products can only be seen in the
newspaper,” a source in South Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on March 20.
A source in Ryanggang Province added, “The regime has
been actively promoting the achievements of the Hungnam factory since last
year, so we were expecting that Hungnam fertilizers would be sold at an
affordable price. But we can’t find anything from Hungnam in the markets, which
is exacerbating people’s distrust of the state’s media outlets.
The Rodong Sinmun reported on Premier Park Pong Ju’s visit
to the Hungnam factory, and published various other accompanying articles
regarding the factory’s achievements on February 27.
The Hungnam Fertilizer Complex was built in 1927 during the
Japanese annexation as the largest factory in Asia at the time, but the
machinery is now severely outdated. In addition, the production volumes are
paltry due to a chronic shortage of fuel and materials.
Some estimates put North Korea’s fertilizer requirements at
approximately 1.55 million tons per year, but the actual production hovers at
roughly 500,000 tons. As such, there is little chance that the fertilizers will
end up in the hands of local farmers, who represent the demographic in greatest
need of them.
“It’s difficult to find residents who say they’re using
Hungnam fertilizer, even in Hungnam. According to fertilizer traders and some
workers in the Hungnam factory, most of the Hungnam fertilizer is sent to the
army,” a separate source in South Hamgyong with ties to the chemical
complex reported.
Consequently, the residents of South Hamgyong Province have
long abandoned hope for buying Hungnam fertilizer, except for (in the source’s
words), “naive merchants who believe the state propaganda and are expecting
that Hungnam fertilizer will help their business.”
One merchant with whom the source recently spoke made the
trip out to Hungnam from Ryanggang Province, believing proclamations espoused
by the state-run Rodong Sinmun. Upon his arrival in Hungnam, however, he was
admonished by local residents for being “totally out of touch.”
“The locals in Hungnam are telling traders arriving
from other regions that they’re ‘out of their minds’ and asking why they
wouldn’t at least call or find out more information before making the trip. The
traders are embarrassed, and people like me can’t believe there are still those
who believe the Rodong Sinmun,” the source added.
