As the de facto private economy expands in
\nNorth Korea and the gap between the rich and poor grows, Pyongyang\u2019s new affluent middle class, known as the donju, or ‘money masters,’ are paying hundreds of dollars for fancy restaurant
\nmeals. <\/p>\n
On November 27th a Daily NK reporter spoke Daily NK crosschecked this news with a source in the capital and another in South Pyongan Province. <\/p>\n \u201cWhile Party cadres and the donju spend hundreds \u201cOn Independence Road, near the gym \u201cA group of four can easily consume $200 is the equivalent of 1,600,000 KPW, Although the number of Pyongyang citizens
\nwith a source in North Pyongan Province by telephone, who said that as the Kim
\nJong Un era presses on, the unceasing transformation of the capital embodies
\n\u201ctwo sides to every coin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nof dollars per meal at fancy restaurants, ordinary citizens scrape by day to
\nday on what they can earn at the market,” she asserted.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(Pyongyang Gymnasium),” she said that the donju and the elite can be seen frequenting such
\nupscale restaurants like \u201cThe Golden Cup,\u201d known for its high end cuisine; another popular eatery is a nearby bistro specializing in smoked duck. A single meal at either of these establishments
\nstarts at $50, generally running a customer far more.<\/span> <\/p>\n
\nat least $200 worth of food at one meal,\u201d she noted.<\/span> <\/p>\n
\nwhich, at the current market price of 5000 KPW per 1 kg of rice, can purchase
\napproximately 320 kg worth of rice, the staple of the North Korean diet.<\/span> <\/p>\n
\nearning decent money as markets flourish appears to be on the rise, the
\ndisparity in wealth is also growing owing to the monopoly market power of the
\nauthorities. Their grip on the market allows them to enjoy a lifestyle that our
\nsource compared to \u201cheaven on earth\u201d, while the “rest of the people are left out
\nin the cold.”<\/span><\/p>\n