Before North Korean authorities officially announced an outbreak of COVID-19 on May 12, South Pyongan Province shipped coal to North Hamgyong Province, Daily NK has learned.
A source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Friday that the two provinces conducted the joint operation to provide coal to North Hamgyong Province, which produces only lignite, otherwise known as “brown coal.”
“A written proposal to supply South Pyongan Province’s coal to North Hamgyong Province was submitted to the Cabinet,” he said. “It was approved, and the coal was released to North Hamgyong Province in early May.”
According to the source, the joint operation between the two provinces – dubbed a “unified coal provision” – involved a deluge of transport convoys to a number of regions of North Hamgyong Province over several days starting on May 7.
North Korea’s ruling party ordered each province to “unconditionally resolve” at least one issue impacting the lives of the people this year, the source said, adding that North Hamgyong Province “has already reported to the party that it would resolve [the province’s] lack of wood for making fires.”
Meanwhile, in South Pyongan Province, there had been a sudden drop in coal exports, and since the province could not simply pile the coal it had produced outdoors ahead of the rainy season, provincial officials ended up reaching an agreement with North Hamgyong Province to supply the coal, the source said.
In early May, about 10 to 30 red cargo trucks with 10 ton or larger cargo containers passed through No. 10 checkpoints (Ministry of State Security checkpoints) and quarantine checkpoints, forming a line to enter Chongjin, Hoeryong, Musan, Yonsa, Onsong, Gyongsong and Gilju. The trucks dumped their coal at freight deposits or school sports fields.
The source said locals were surprised by all this, saying it was “the first time so much coal has come in.”
The coal is reportedly selling at prices higher than state-set prices, the source said.
“The coal came from the Jikdong Mine in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province, and had a lot of rocks, so it sold for USD 30 to 40 a ton. People facing enough hardships as it is couldn’t purchase the coal even if it was sold more cheaply, so the donju bought it all up,” the source said, using a term referring to North Korea’s wealthy entrepreneurial class.
According to the source, the two provinces did not initially intend to sell the coal to the donju. However, when the trucks arrived, they faced time constraints, and in particular, they could not stay long due to emergency quarantine rules. Forced to make a quick decision, they sold off their coal to the donju and quickly withdrew to their home province.
“In the end, the joint operation didn’t make lives easier for the people. It helped the donju do business,” the source said, adding, “Basically, the donju will sit on the coal until autumn, when the price of coal rises as people prepare for winter, and then they’ll sell it off.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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