Fractured Monolith

The quality and quantity of the Daily NK’s reports from inside the North just seem to get better. This week, two new reports fill in gaps in our knowledge about economic and social conditions; both are absolute must-reads. The first is filled with pictures of gritty scenes of daily life in the North. It’s astonishing to see the extent to which the blockade has eroded when pictures like these come out.

On this day, the brawl began as 2 young security guards (noncommissioned officers in their early-20’s) tried to forcefully stop a service car on its way to Hwangju province. Apparently, the security guards ordered for the car to halt, but the driver ignored the guards and sped up. As a result, the security guards jumped onto the passenger side and smashed the glass window. This led to a fist fight between the security guards and driver.

The people sitting at the back of the truck yelled abusive language in protest against the security guards who fought arrogantly even after having broken a window.

No, fistfights aren’t necessarily the sparks of revolution, but they do much to correct our impression that the people can’t, or won’t, challenge the regime’s forces. The difference between disorder and revolution is an idea. Read, if only for the pictures.

The next story is simply bleak, and suggests that my dire predictions about the food situation are coming to pass:

At Sunam markets in Chungjin, North Hamkyung province a bag of rice surged 1,400 won ($0.46) a kilo. Since last May when prices skyrocketed to 1,300won this is the highest prices have reached.

The cost of 1kg of corn is a high 450won. The districts within North Hamkyung province such as Onsung, Hoiryeong and Musan are no different. The cost of a kilo of rice at Onsung and Hoiryeong averages 1,200won ($0.40) and has risen to 1,300won at Musan. On average corn is costing 380~400won per kilo.

Although autumn harvest has begun throughout all of North Korea, the cost of food at Jangmadang continues to rise and the common North Korean experiences greater difficulties as a result of food shortage. Defectors have informed that poverty has become so severe in North Hamkyung province that the nightmares of mass starvation in the mid-90’s is once again tormenting a laborer’s dinner table with the reappearance of “˜grass porridge.’

The story suggests that most workers aren’t receiving rations. Again, government diversion and hoarding are suspected. Much more on the food situation here. All we can hope is that if a new famine arises, that the international response will be more principled and coordinated than it has been in the past.