A trade company president and farm official in North Hamgyong Province were sentenced to two years of "labor correction" (prison) for illegally distributing food, a local reporting partner told us in mid-January. The Kim Jong-un regime has been strictly controlling the market and private distribution of staple foods like rice and corn for several years, thoroughly maintaining state control. (ISHIMARU Jiro / KANG Ji-won)
◆Not Even a Single Kernel of Corn Can Be Moved
"The current government policy is not to move even a single kernel of corn without the country's approval."
This is how our reporting partner in Musan County described the situation. That's how powerful and severe North Korea's current food management policies are.
These signs began appearing in mid-2020, during the COVID pandemic. Authorities intervened in the previously legal food trade within markets, beginning to redirect sales to state-run "grain sales stores." In January 2023, ASIAPRESS investigations revealed that food distribution in markets was prohibited and market stalls were dismantled.
The Kim Jong-un regime has consolidated all food sales to the monopoly "grain sales stores," while strictly monitoring farms and farmers to prevent food from leaving the countryside—the source of food supplies—and ensure they cannot remove and dispose of grain.
◆Sold Farm Products to Buy Agricultural Materials, Got 2 Years in Prison
Our reporting partner shared the following details about the case:
"One morning in mid-January, during the workplace morning reading session, a notice came down from authorities. Three people were sentenced to two years of labor correction after being caught secretly selling 3 tons of food this year: the president of Jeonghun Trade Company, the technical manager of Chilseong-ri Farm, and a 'donju' (wealthy entrepreneur) who brokered the deal.
Because many people were involved, others are being investigated by the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Social Security (police), and they said more people will likely receive prison sentences. Everything, including portions already sold to individuals, will be confiscated without compensation."
The notice about the case was sent to all agencies and enterprises in Musan County.
According to our reporting partner, Chilseong-ri Farm sold the food to procure agricultural materials. It became a major problem because the trade company used it to make money.
"These days, when companies trade food, they cannot move even a single grain without approval from the Grain Administration Bureau (an administrative agency). If caught, everything is confiscated, so all companies are terrified."
