Part 1: In some areas, the mourning period for Kim Jong Il has been extended through to the end of March on the orders of the security forces, meaning there is little of the informal trading upon which many of the poorest rely. Given that the number of illegal traders far exceeds that of the legal variety, it is clear that this is a serious issue.Interviewees commented that the authorities have been paying little heed to public discomfort in their efforts to create an atmosphere of sorrow at the death of Kim Jong Il and loyalty to new leader Kim Jong Eun. Read More
Part 2: The woman from Hamheung went on, “Soon it is the Suryeong’s 100th birthday and then the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Army, but I believe things will ease up after that. Now we are in a quasi-state of war, so I guess it isn’t easy to calm things down. Society is particularly tense because of the South Korean military exercises.”
With the exception of Pyongyang, the interviewees report that there have not been rations given since the emergence of the Kim Jong Eun
regime, and there were only special rations for Kim Jong Il’s birthday in some areas. Naturally, people are complaining that if the state is not going to give rations, it should at least permit the minimum amount of trading needed to survive. Read MorePart 3: The middle aged female trader from Kangye told Daily NK, “Of course people are only concerned with the problem of survival; they’re not interested in General Kim Jong Eun all that much. Having said that, life is hard and we just think it would be good if it all changed. Some people, since they feel no love for him at all, say that through a war or death they just want some kind of change.”
“In January, the month after the General’s death, people started to talk about General Kim being young and having no experience once again,” she went on. “People are both doubtful and quite worried about whether he can lead the country properly given his lack of experience.” Read More
