North Korea Today Research Institute for the North Korean Society 12th issue Good Friends: Centre for Peace, Human Rights and Refugees 1585-16 Seocho 3dong, Seochogu, Seoul, Korea 137-875 | Ph:+82 2 587 0662 | email: [email protected] Featured Article Hoeryung, Ten Days Worth of Food The December rations were provided from the Distribution are sold in December South Korean aid, and this was told at the official In Hoeryung, the provincial governement of food distributor (shop). Since there were North Hamkyung made a public announcement insufficient amount of rice to be distributed, some through a lecture on the new Public who have food coupons could not buy any rations. Distribution(PDS) system will emerge from 16th It could be seen as the state is trying to of December 2005 to the end of December. The monopolise the rice market – although this is not same was promised in November, but the actual a common situation throughout the country, since distribution did not take place. End of at Hamheung in the North Hamgyung province December 2005, however, 10days worth of rice did not control the black market, but proceed with was distributed for people who have brought the the PDS(Publc Distribution System). ration tickets. Hamheung, in October and November last year, After the Economic Management Improvement the PDS resumed as per normal and grains (rice Measures Policy in July 2002, the government and maize) were all threshed and in normal ration. was planning to provide rice at government This is a comparable change from distributing price(44won ed.), but this time the rice is unthreshed grains while the PDS was suspended. provided at lower rate than the market place. In Some who have received were so moved that they December the price of rice was provided at shed tears thinking that the PDS is resuming as it 780won while in the black market, rice was sold was 15years ago. Hence, the price of rice in at 850won. markets of Hamheung maintained low cost for awhile. But in December 2005, when the PDS Rice rations were given at normal rate, where was not given, the price of rice raised. previously, rations were taken off in the name of ‘Rice Saver’, ‘Rice Patriot’, hence, the workers would end up getting 560g when they should get 700g (ration per day), but this time, they were able to get the designated amount. Aftereffect of Rice Market Suspension When rice is sold 800-900won per kilogram, the After the suspension of selling rice on the market, ‘go-between’ receives about 50-100won. Hence, the control of rice markets differ depending on the the price of rice rises since they have to include regions and even in the same regions control is the commission. There certainly is a haggling differentiated depending on the size of the market. process, but the purchasers are at disadvantage In the case of the Sunam Market in Chungjin, since the demands are higher than the supply and North Hamgyung province the local government usually to gather the amount of rice required to is closely contolled, whereas small markets in the sell, they would need to visit five to six houses. vicinity are not monitored at all. In North Hamgyung, including the Ranam Market, and It is not easy to be a regular purchaser since the markets in Hamheung, Anju, Sookchun, Heichun, sellers are after higher price, and do not give at Bookchang, Daegwan and Sinuiju are operating same amount and often out of stock. They then free from any control from the authority. have to contact the ‘go-between’ to find another Villages on the border areas, however, Musan, farmhouse to buy rice. Rice is then sold to Hoeryung, Onsung there are tighter control and another region that is less controlled – at a higher numerous public lectures were held to educate the price – which would raise the rice price of the public that private selling of rice is prohibited. region. Hence, this ‘retailing’ system results There are still people who sell rice in markets of irregularity in the retail system depending on the these areas; they only retract when there are region, for instance, in Chungjin, rice from the patrols about. Sunam market is 100won to 200won more expensive than in Ranam Market. Getting Commission for introducing the rice sellers Compatibility of rice selling depends on how fast Since the official ban of the rice on the market, in and how much one could secure rice for sale. some areas, the rice is sold at private homes. Also the finding out when the Department of Hence, for those who purchase rice directly from Food Policy will provide PDS in the area is farms and sell in small amount in Doeguri: ᢲᄊ another significant variable, since after the PDS, Ṇi1 sellers from another region would not know the price rice drops dramatically so they would where the rice is sold. This situation created a need to sell bofore it happens. Information is ‘go-between’ who introduces farm houses for the always a crucial factor in any business, but in rice Doeguri sellers. selling business, this is particularly important. Most sizable rice sellers are in good terms with the local Department of Food Policy. Meanwhile, on the recently resumed PDS, most 1 Grain ‘Doe-gu-ri (ᢲᄊṆ)’ trading is when merchants are pessimistic about whether the PDS will suceed. would directly go to farms and buy the rice without the wholesalers. Afterwards, the customers buy in small Even the party officials say that the nation-wide amount from the Doe-gu-ri sellers. PDS will not be possible only with the North symtoms for the cows until January 17 in Rasun, Korean produced rice. The cereal production in but on the January 19, 28 cows have died. 2005 is said to be 4,500,000MT, but it is likely to have inflated the 2005 cereal production. The North Korean government is reponding the Realistically, the production amount would be epidemic quite promptly. In Hoeryung the estimated at 3,000,000 – 3,500,000MT and say symtoms showed first at the Wonsanri on January the PDS has already proven failure under their 10. A official dealing with MCD said that the breath. That it will also be good to buy rice epidemic has come from China and about 90 while it is still at a lower price. cows have been slaughtered. All cows when even a similar symptom showed have been Updates from the Border area slaughtered then buried. Pits are dug deep in Introduction of Mad Cow Diseases in order to prevent any recurring incidences since North Hamgyung – January 2006 the virus could persist upto ten years. The locals The Mad Cow disease are spreading on the border understand the MCD as the likes of the ‘Bird Flu’. areas like Hoeryung, Onsung, Saebyul, where a The epidemic is highly contagious that it is even number of cows in this area are showing symtoms spreading through air – it is contractable to people such as splitting toe nails, swelling between the who are managing the epidemic. However, apart toes and tongues will not roll back into mouths from burying cows, there are no initiatives for any and dribble. Locals call it the ‘Cow Disease’. preventative measures. Only Hoeryung has banned foreigners and people from other region to It seems the Mad Cow Disease(MCD) on the coming in. Until January 19, the border is not boreder area in Xiaohelong China - have now completely sealed, but has been declared to be spread over the border to the villages in North sealed. Hamgyung. The MCD began in early In the city of Rasun, they are blocking any December from the town of Sanhe in China and transport or persons to enter, particularly any one now seems to have stablised, but Onsung and from Chungjin is completely blocked. In Sambong are still spreading. In China, the January 21, the rate of infection seems to be vaccine costs 300yuan per injection, the decending. vaccinated cows are well while unvaccinated cows become vulnerable and when they catch the Buried Cows are Gone disease, the cow cannot eat and die soon On January 23, 40 cows that contracted MCD afterwards. In Sanhe 11 cows have died because were buried in Ingyeri, a surburb in Hoeryung, of MCD. after the burial, and two cow were missing. On North Korean end, the epidemic is spreading The local government is running a campaign fast from Onsung, Saebyul then to Hoeryung and visiting each village to announce when MCD presently Rasun is suffering. There were no contracted beef were consumed; it will be fatal for children under five. Despite the effort, there still obtained houses when their parents are deceased. were people who dig out MCD cows for consumption and put on the market. The usual tenants are peddlers and smugglers. Rental fees are paid on the monthly bases, but In March 2005, the bird flu was found at Hadang those who are professionally working on the Chicken processing factory farm in Pyongyang. border, may pay in advance for six months. The When the farm closed and chickens were buried, police patrol would regularly check the lodging in many villagers stole buried chickens. This is the villages, but would not check on the largely due to lack of recognition of how fatal the supposedly unoccupied houses. Even when they disease could be, and since chicken or beef is a are being checked, the owners of houses are in luxurious food item that ordinary North Koreans good relationship with the police. could not get normally.