North Korea is one of the most secretive and isolated countries in the world. While the capital city of Pyongyang is often showcased as a modern and prosperous metropolis, the reality of life in rural areas is largely unknown to the outside world. What do rural North Koreans do for a living? How do they cope with the harsh conditions and the lack of resources? What are their hopes and dreams? In this article, we will explore some of the aspects of life in rural North Korea, based on the limited information available from defectors, journalists, and researchers.
Agriculture: The Backbone of Rural Economy
The majority of rural North Koreans are engaged in agriculture, either as members of state-run collective farms or as private farmers who cultivate small plots of land. According to the World Food Programme, about 70% of North Korea’s population is food insecure, and chronic malnutrition affects 40% of children under five. The country faces frequent food shortages due to natural disasters, economic sanctions, and mismanagement. To cope with the situation, rural North Koreans have developed various strategies, such as diversifying their crops, using organic fertilizers, and selling surplus produce in the market.
According to defectors, rural North Koreans work eight hours a day, six days a week, on the collective farms. They are assigned quotas based on the size and quality of their land, and they receive a portion of the harvest as payment. The rest of the harvest is delivered to the state, which distributes it to the military, the elite, and the urban population. However, the state ration system is often unreliable and insufficient, forcing rural North Koreans to rely on their own production or the market for food.
Transportation: A Challenge for Rural Mobility
One of the most striking differences between rural and urban areas in North Korea is the lack of transportation infrastructure. According to a report by the Korea Transport Institute, only 3% of the roads in North Korea are paved, compared to 92% in South Korea. Moreover, the country has a chronic shortage of fuel, vehicles, and spare parts, making travel difficult and expensive. Rural North Koreans mainly use bicycles, carts, and animals for transportation, while buses and trucks are rare and often reserved for official purposes. Some rural areas are also connected by rail, but the trains are slow, overcrowded, and prone to accidents.
The poor transportation system affects the quality of life and the economic opportunities of rural North Koreans. It limits their access to education, health care, and information, as well as their ability to trade and travel. It also isolates them from the rest of the country and the world, making them more dependent on the state and the local authorities. However, some rural North Koreans have found ways to overcome the transportation barriers, such as smuggling goods across the border, bribing officials, and joining informal networks of traders and travelers.
Market: A Source of Income and Information for Rural People
Another aspect of life in rural North Korea that is often overlooked is the role of the market. Since the 1990s, when the state economy collapsed and the famine killed millions of people, the market has emerged as a vital source of income and information for rural North Koreans. The market is where they can buy and sell goods, such as food, clothing, household items, and electronics, as well as exchange news, rumors, and opinions. The market is also where they can access foreign products, especially from China, which are cheaper, better, and more diverse than the domestic ones. Some of the most popular foreign products are old Japanese products, such as watches, radios, and cameras, which are considered high-quality and fashionable.
The market is not only a place of economic activity, but also a place of social and cultural interaction. It is where rural North Koreans can meet and mingle with people from different backgrounds, regions, and classes, and learn about the outside world. The market is also where they can express their dissatisfaction and resistance to the state, by engaging in illegal or semi-legal activities, such as smuggling, trading in foreign currency, and consuming foreign media. The market is, therefore, a potential force for change and reform in rural North Korea, as it challenges the state’s monopoly and control over the economy and society.
Conclusion: A Complex and Contradictory Picture of Rural North Korea
Life in rural North Korea is not a monolithic or homogeneous phenomenon. It is a complex and contradictory picture of hardship and resilience, of dependence and autonomy, of isolation and connection. Rural North Koreans face many challenges and difficulties, such as poverty, hunger, and oppression, but they also have many strengths and opportunities, such as creativity, adaptability, and solidarity. Rural North Koreans are not passive or ignorant victims, but active and aware agents, who shape and are shaped by their environment. Rural North Korea is not a static or stagnant reality, but a dynamic and evolving one, that reflects and influences the broader trends and changes in the country and the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment