◆ Measures Considering Public Sentiment Ahead of Party Congress?
Why did sales volume at 'Ryanggok Panmaeso' increase? The following can be speculated:
・ Last autumn's corn harvest was favorable.
・ Grain outflow from rural areas was strictly regulated and private transactions were monitored, strongly promoting centralized transactions at 'Ryanggok Panmaeso'.
・ Sales volume was increased to appease public sentiment ahead of the February Workers' Party Congress.
Regarding the absence of white rice sales at 'Ryanggok Panmaeso', the reporting partners who investigated uniformly stated, "White rice hasn't been continuously coming in from production areas like Hwanghae Province. The country is strongly regulating white rice movement."
Additionally, illegal private transaction prices as of the January 23 investigation were 15,000 won per kg for white rice and 3,700 won for corn.
◆ Insufficient Money to Buy Despite Increased Sales Volume
The problem is the lack of cash income to make purchases. With private economic activities strongly regulated by the Kim Jong-un regime, many residents have given up commercial activities and become employed at enterprises. Urban residents across the board have lost cash income. Wages (not called salaries) are state-set and vary by enterprise and position, but are about 50,000 won per month - an amount insufficient even to purchase 20kg of corn. Moreover, most ordinary people reportedly have difficulty purchasing side dishes, soap, clothing and other daily necessities.
Households without workers, such as the elderly and infirm, are called 'Jeollyang households' due to insufficient cash income. According to reporting partners, for these lowest-class 'Jeollyang households', local governments provide several kg of corn free of charge.
Additionally, this ASIAPRESS investigation could not obtain information about sales conditions at 'Ryanggok Panmaeso' in regions outside the north, such as Pyongyang.
※ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
