North Today

Research Institute for the North Korean Society 21st edition Good Friends: Centre for Peace, Human Rights and Refugees

Publisher: Ven. Pomnyun (Good Friends was formerly known as the ‘KBSM’) 1585-16 Seocho 3dong, Seochogu, Seoul, Korea 137-875 | Ph:+82 2 587 0662 | email: [email protected]

Food Assistance from daily attendance is only about 1,700. So called 8.3 Delivered by Ox Carts labourers, about 260 people bribe to operate Last year in 2005, the South Korean government personal business instead, about 450 absentees provided loan based 500,000MT of rice food with only their names on the list of workers and assistance to . Up until January 1, operate a side business and about 600 people with 2006, 10,000MT of rice was provided to Chungjin unknown whereabouts, for the total of 45% in two batches. To distribute the rice, unaccountable workforce. Although previously commonly used transporting device is the ox carts unconcerned with absentees, following directions since proper transporting devices are scarce in on strict regulation of border regions, verifications regional areas. Food Provision Units식량공급소 n of missing persons are being made. the city of Chungjin notified each organisations to obtain food rations in allocated farms for Secondhand Bicycle Cost Jump More than themselves. But in a region, where only the Double the Price first grade workplaces (factories) would have a Secondhand bicycles were usually imported from 2.5MT~ 5MT truck so an ordinary workplaces , but after the government putting more cannot even think of having one, let alone lending control on importing the bicycles, the price have a truck is too expensive and difficult with fuels doubled. Secondhand bicycles used to be sold expensive and hard to get, it is almost the same as at 50,000won -150,000won is now selling at buying rice off the market themselves. Hence, it 200,000won to 300,000won, this year. The is easy to see people delivering rice on an Ox control on the imported secondhand bicycles is to Carts(See photo 1. below; ‘대한민국: Republic of increase the sales of the new ‘Moranbonga bicycle Korea’ is clearly seen on the cart). Under the brand for Pyongyang Bicycle Joint Venture Factory’ bicycle for circumstance, the foreign assistance gets longtime public use from October 7, 2006 by the to reach the final destination. ‘Pyongyang Bicycle Joint Venture Factory 평양자전거합영공장’, a joint venture with . Although the poor transport system does not allow the Moranbong bicycles to cities nation-wide.

Photo 1. The ‘대한민국: Republic of Korea’ is clearly shown on the rice sack

Attendance for Work is Just Above 50% Photo 2. Secondhand bicycles are sold at the city In Yusun Coal Mine유선탄광기업소 in Hoeryung회령 of Chungjin city, despite 3000 registered labourers, average Reported Improvements Cannot Be Seen The North Koreans have a deep mistrust in the news media. Despite the report that many power plants, factories, industries have expanded and renovated, and food processing plants, fishery and poultry plants with extraordinary yields under the auspice of Chairman Kim Jungil, residents are publicly complaining that ‘the situation seems liveable according to news reports but in actual reality the benefits are no where to be seen.’

Photo 3. North Koreans with their bicyles In addition to residents, those in mid-level managerial positions are also lamenting that the For instance, when the secondhand bicycles are price of commodity such as bicycles are imported from Japan to Port Chungjin청진항, with continually rising and that there is nothing in the 5,000won a ‘Servi’car서비차 could deliver the market to purchase with the current salary. With bicycles to Hoeryung회령, Saebyul새별, and complaint that there isn’t a single Pyongyang Onsung온성. But if the bicycles were to be bicycle to be seen despite the news of thousands brought from Pyongyang to these areas, the cost of bicycles producing from the new Pyongyang of bicycle for the customers pay is higher than the bicycle factory, they sigh that ‘we’re told about actual value. Under the circumstances, the the large quantity of eggs and meat being demands for the imported secondhand bicycles produced but who has tasted it? are still high. According to the news there should be hundreds The Pyongyang Bicycle Joint Venture Factory of power plants but we don’t even have regular used to be the Pyongyang Bicycle Assembling electricity and the factories are not even operating Factory평양자전거조립공장 managed by the Ministry properly.’ As a result, residents who trust the of People’s Armed Forces인민무력부. It was built news and publicity from the official government to produce bicycles for the military use, that is, source are scarce. The saying that ‘If it can’t be foot soldiers to easily move around. For seen, how can we trust and work hard’ displays practical reasons, though, they have changed into the sentiments of North Koreans. civilian use since bicycles for military is only used in ‘war-situation’ and discarded once used – In Detention Because of the Portrait it would cost the government for production, but March 2006, there was a fire at a factory in there is no income in return. Hoeryung. There was no substantial damage but the security guard on duty failed to save the To overcome the problem of high cost in portraits of past Chairman Kim Ilsung and current production and low income, the government tried Chairman Kim Jungil and has become an issue. to sell the bicycles at the imported goods store, The guard was restrained because of the burnt but could not succeed competing with the portraits. Although he was released several imported products. The wealthy people who come months later, due to the repercussion he passed to the imported goods store would want a good away in August. quality bicycle from and Japan. As a result, the Ministry of People’s Armed Force As opposed to typical crimes, crimes related to handed over the management to the Department portraits are handled seriously. Therefore, in case of Administration and began producing from fire, the first task is to salvage the portraits. While beginning of October 2005. the accused can be easily off the hook for other crimes with a little bit of bribe to the responsible On the November 27, 2005 Chosun-Shinbo(daily police officer or security guard, issues regarding newspaper) internet version wrote the 5,000 portraits are reported immediately to the higher bicycles were sold, in reality, however, the future authority. The issue is not something that can be of ‘Moranbong’ bicycle is grim unless there is treated with bribe and the accused is difficult to major changes in retail system and the quality of be treated lightly. Although the situation is the bicycle. difficult to understand to outsiders, this event exemplifies the efforts by the North Korean and adapt. A best practice was shared in the government to maintain its only ideology. note, the Young kwang Funiture Joint Venture Incorporation영광가구합영회사, an affiliated Public Lecture Notes organisation under the Ministry of Building 건설건재공업성 from the North Korean Government Material Industry . This company has adapted technology to put small pieces of Building the Nation’s Economy wood together with glue and pressed to make furniture and installed advanced technology. In the public education sessions, the North With a few years of efforts, the note is predicting Korean government is trying to encourage the it would sell at least 2,000pieces to Italia each public that the nation’s economy has to be built to year. improve the quality of living for the people. The government is stating that the Nation’s Major Finally the lecture note puts heavy emphasis on Fighting Front주공전선 is the Agriculture and to the education revolution that, it ultimately leads improve the grain production, seeds, fertiliser and revolution for technology and science which water are emphasised as the major issues to tackle would exemplify the socialist welfare system. in the 2006. Particularly fertiliser is the most serious issue that from last year in 2005, the The lecture on, “building the socialist economy government is trying to resolve the fertiliser and improving the people’s quality of life that problem through reviving the Heungnam United would venture into the renaissance of the socialist Fertiliser Factory흥남비료연합기업소 . culture”, hence, that in order to make the North Korea into an economically advance nation, they Along with the agricultural front, the government would have to put best efforts on the developing is pushing to build on the electricity, coals and various industries. minerals, train transports. It also urges public to put their best effort into all facets of the industries “In the world today, every country has their such as, the gathering industry, machineries, representative products, technology and business. chemical, construction materials, forestry and These are internationally recognised products light industry commodities. which enhance the reputation and become the leader of the nation’s economy that the North The notes explain for best outcome, economic Koreans could make it in the international system has to be more structured to guarantee the markets”. The note claims and encourages this profits, combating to reduce basic faults on would relax the tension on the foreign exchange products, modernising renovations, improving and contribute towards great prosperity of the management system. nation.

According to the Lecture note, a case was Although the note fails to present ‘how’ the provided for combating to reduce basic faults on problems will be resolved. It has been awhile the products was from the mining industry. for the cooperative production system has North Korea has one of the highest deposits of collapsed and most of the commodities have to be magnesite in the world, but due to the low level of produced in isolation, hence, the combating to fire resistance, domestically produced reduce basic faults on products, modernising fire-resistant brick has a shorter life in comparison renovations, improving management system with imported products. There is also high becomes hollow slogans. For instance, if a deposit of graphite, but the problem with factory needs a roll-bearing, since the bearing electrode has not been resolved yet that producing factory has ceased its production, they consecutively affecting the machinery industry for would either have to import the bearing or create tools and other bearings. their own bearing from their workshop. The quality is far worse than the professionally made Modernising Renovation was also a significant ones, but most factories cannot afford to make factor in improving the economic system. One themselves. Adapting the advanced technology of the most important process of modernisation is is also difficult when the industry cannot even to adapting the updated technology that, joint produce basic parts. It seems that the lecture venture business is the good opportunity to learn notes are required to be more on the ground.

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