Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> China hurries to intensify border security due to uptick in COVID-19 cases, ordering people to avoid going within 100 meters of border 2022.12.27
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> Kim Jong-un regime strengthens state-run food store network to sell food at prices cheaper than markets 2022.12.23
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea>N. Koreans start their war against the cold, gathering at coal mines to pick up what they can, sometimes leading to police mobilizations… “There’s far less coal available than needed. We’ll freeze to death if this continues…” 2022.12.23
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> The Kim regime shifts its food policy, suppressing food sales in markets while creating a state monopoly on the food supply ISHIMARU Jiro 2022.12.14
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> Two N. Koreans caught attempting to defect arrested and possibly executed by firing squad…Government says “defections will not be forgiven” 2022.12.06
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea>RMB-KRW exchange rate sees unprecedented rise, 36% higher than 3 weeks ago…“Foreign currency has dried up now” 2022.12.01
Society / Economy COVID-19 <Interview with a N. Korean> (2) Speaking honestly about N. Korea’s poverty…“I’m angry whenever I hear about missiles and I want to live like a human being” 2022.11.29
Society / Economy <Interview with a N. Korean> (1) “It’s ridiculous that the government launches missiles while its people remain starving” 2022.11.27
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> Government sets nighttime curfew at 6 PM..."Police arrest anyone who leaves their homes..." Why now? 2022.11.16
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea>N. Korea takes issue with high school students taking videos of kissing, dancing, fighting, and harassing the homeless 2022.11.11
Society / Economy COVID-19 <Inside N. Korea> Chinese vaccines administered to N. Koreans in cities near Chinese border, leading to high hopes about restart of trade 2022.11.06
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> Smuggling appears to restart on the China-North Korea border…Would-be defectors are caught, and trading companies start “state-led smuggling” 2022.10.31
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> High school students enter farm fields to steal crops to survive…Government officials check whereabouts of students who miss class 2022.10.31
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea>A severe lack of medicines is pushing N. Korea’s medical system further into collapse…Imports of medical supplies are increasing, but without IVs, anesthesia, or disinfectant, people are dying 2022.10.31
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> N. Korea’s recent farming situation (2) Gunshots heard in the farm fields…The authorities place an unprecedently troops in the fields to prevent robberies 2022.10.12
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> Shocking levels of urban poverty forces an increasing number of people to abandon cities to beg in rural areas 2022.10.06
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea> Massive increase in opium addicts leads to measures by the authorities as the drug is used to treat COVID-19 symptoms 2022.09.27
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea>Recent farming situation (1) Farm mobilizations begin in earnest…The authorities work hard to prevent stealing of harvested crops 2022.09.24
Society / Economy S. Koreans are immensely fatigued about N. Korea…But continued interest in the N. Korean people is necessary. ISHIMARU Jiro 2022.08.25
Society / Economy <Inside N. Korea>The government distributes emergency rations to starving farmers…“Some farmers are so malnourished they can’t stand up” 2022.08.23
Society / Economy COVID-19 <Inside N. Korea> Spread of anxiety among N. Koreans due to spiking food prices (1)…White rice has spiked 45%... “No food is entering the markets”…The government’s overzealous efforts are a major reason for the spike 2022.08.05
Society / Economy <Special Feature> Escaping N.Korea…History and Present State(2) Defectors have become a threat to the regime…Around 200 live in Japan ISHIMARU Jiro 2022.08.03