It has been revealed
that starving North Koreans are increasing in
number this year due to the deteriorating food
situation. The further away from the North's
border with China, the worse the food situation
gets. Until last year big cities, on account of
relief grains coming from abroad, suffered less
food shortages than the rural and mountainous
areas, but the situation has recently been
reversed between urban and rural areas, according
to Korean-Chinese who frequent the North. The
extent of food shortages used to differ between
regions, but the difference now exists even in the
same region, depending on which workplace one
belongs to. Grade 2 business establishments having
the workforce of 1,000-1,500 or above have
recently set up the trade section, whose job it is
to earn foreign exchange and procure foods. Jobs
with clout provide their staff with part of foods
needed, but others find it difficult to secure
foods for their employees.
Until the end
of last year, citizens of Sinuiju, North Pyongyan
province were rationed with a monthly food supply
lasting 10 days, consisting of relief grains like
corns and Annam rice. But the rationing has been
suspended for most of citizens of the border city
this year. The households of party members and
servicemen are rationed with rice, says
Korean-Chinese Ri Sun Hi (alias, 29), who has
recently been to Sinuiju. But ordinary workers
haven't received food rations in recent months,
having been told by the authorities that work
places are supposed to solve food problems on
their own, adds Ri.
The food situation has
somewhat improved in Pyongyang when compared with
the worst time in 1997-98, but rationing is
unbalanced even in the capital city, with rice
replaced by miscellaneous cereals, according to a
Korean resident in Japan who visited his relatives
in the capital a while ago. A large quantity of
unshelled rice, sufficient to last for no less
than six months, was said to have been supplied at
once in April to scholars working at the Academy
of Sciences, located in Unjong District of
Pyongyamg. The action appears to have been taken
in order to prepare for uncertain prospects for
food supply in future.
Food rationing came
to a full stop this year in Sunchon City, South
Pyongan province. In addition, according to a
North Korean who fled from the North to the South
this year. But food rationing continues for the
families of servicemen assigned to an air base
near the city and the staff of such influential
government agencies as the Ministry of People's
Security (the police) and the State Security
Service (the intelligence agency). A monthly
rationing of foods lasting a week is continuously
accorded to those who have rendered meritorious
services to the state, who are entitled to
preferential treatment, and aged veterans who had
participated in the 1950-53 Korean War.
The food situation is much worse in
Hamgyong provinces than in Pyongan provinces.
Mining villages in South Hamgyong province, which
were plagued by food shortages even before the
latest famine, are said to be at the edge of
starvation. When large quantities of relief grains
were available, Hamgyong provinces received a
monthly food supplies sufficient for sustenance
for a week or ten days, but food rationing in the
provinces is said to have been suspended this year
earlier than Pyongan provinces. Namyang laborers'
district in Onsong County, North Hamgyong
province, has been without food rations for
several months, according to Korean-Chinese Im
Chang Hui, (alias, 54), who has been there
recently. Citizens in the Hamhung area, the food
shortages which are far more serious than in
border areas, are getting desperate enough to
again swarm to the border area in search of foods.
But they are now unable to travel in confusion and
disorder as before in the face of reinforced
controls, says Im.
Mr. Gerald Burk of the
World Food Program, who recently visited North
Korea to look into the food situation there,
remarked continued food aid is necessary for the
North as this year's crop harvests are anticipated
to fall by 10% to 15% below those of last year due
to the prolonged draught and floods. The North
harvested only 1.8 million tons of crops last
year. way short of the minimum requirement of 4.8
million tons.
Deaths from starvation have
begun to emerge across North Korea except
Pyongyang and the border area, and the plight of
citizens has deteriorated as they are no longer
able to engage in commerce, as they used to in
overcoming food shortages when the rationing
system collapsed in 1994, say ethnic Koreans
residing in northeastern China who frequent the
North.
By Kang Chol Hwan
nkch@chosun.com
2001- 8-13 |
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