＜North Korea Special＞ What is the Reality of Kim Jong-un's Agricultural Policy Reform? (6) Illegal Cultivation Land - Farmers Feel Crisis as 'Sotoji' is Completely Banned

◆ Complete Ban on Sotoji This Year - Why?

This year, government crackdowns on private plots have reportedly intensified unprecedented levels. A source from Ryanggang Province (identified as "C") reported in March:

"This year, enforcement agencies have been fully mobilized due to the complete ban on private plots. Until last year, using mountain land was permitted on the condition that trees weren't damaged, but this year, instructions came down from the Central Committee (Worker’s Party) in mid-March that it's absolutely forbidden."

In April, another source from North Hamgyong Province (identified as "A") shared similar news:

"Farmers are trying to maintain their small plots by any means, but they've been notified that this won't be allowed this year and that fields on mountains will be reclaimed, which has made many farm workers very upset."

Why is the regime so fixated on cracking down on private plots? The reason can be found in source B's earlier report:

"They keep enforcing controls because they say farm workers don't do their collective farm work when they're focused on their private plots."

◆ Will Private Plots Really Be Eliminated?

Whether authorities can completely eliminate private farming remains to be seen.

The policy to ban private plots could be positive in the long term for restoring forests and improving the environment. However, a sudden complete ban could shock North Korea's food supply, and it's concerning that ordinary citizens would bear the brunt of such impact.

In the next installment, we'll examine the most interesting changes in the recent agricultural reforms: the supply sector for agricultural products. (TO 7 >>)

※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.

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