＜Inside N.K＞North Korea Arrests Former Midwife for Illegal Abortions as Kim Jong Un Regime Targets Birth Control Amid Declining Birth Rates: "They Don't Even Sell Contraceptives... Women Are Suffering"

◆Legal Abortion Exists, But...

According to the reporting partner, not all abortions are completely banned.

"To have an abortion at a hospital (legally), you need approval from your husband, husband's family, people's unit leader, and district office. Plus you have to clearly explain your family circumstances and reasons for needing an abortion. The procedures take so long that sometimes you can't get an abortion. So you have no choice but to find someone who will perform the surgery privately (though illegally)."

Based on this situation, the reporting partner lamented the male-centered society and pitied women's unfortunate circumstances.

"(The state) makes things that are good for men's virility, but contraceptives are only Chinese-made with no domestic products. Moreover, even Chinese contraceptives aren't sold because pharmacies don't approve their sale. If caught by crackdowns, they tell you to have children. The strict crackdowns are causing accidents as women secretly attempt abortion surgeries. Women in this country are truly pitiful."

◆The Choice "Not to Give Birth" Gets No Recognition for Women

The choice "not to give birth" reflects women's circumstances and suffering.

When it's already difficult just to survive, if you marry and have children, you have to go out and earn money to replace husbands who can't get proper cash income from their jobs, and most of the burden of childcare and housework falls on women.

These days in North Korea, individual economic activities are severely restricted, causing cash income to plummet. There would always be worries about whether you could feed children adequately even if you had them.

Therefore, North Korean women increasingly tend to avoid marriage and childbirth, but unwanted pregnancies can happen anytime. Rather than responding to women who have no choice but to choose "not to give birth" with strict controls and punishment, authorities should prepare other measures.

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