{"id":3937,"date":"2018-10-22T18:11:13","date_gmt":"2018-10-22T09:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=3937"},"modified":"2018-10-22T18:11:38","modified_gmt":"2018-10-22T09:11:38","slug":"no-special-rations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2018\/10\/recommendations\/no-special-rations\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e No \u2018special rations\u2019 provided for Party Foundation Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
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'We have nothing to envy in the world' written on a bag of domestic sweets distributed to children on Kim Jong-il's birthday in 2012. Many people complained about the lack of taste and sold them in the market. (ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 The truth behind the 'gift from the Great Leader to the people'<\/h2>\n

October 10 was the 73rd anniversary of the foundation of the Workers\u2019 Party of Korea, but it appears no special rations were handed out to residents, which had been normally provided on holidays. According to reporting partners in North Korea, special rations for Chuseok and the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic were not provided either. What could be the reason for this? (Kang Ji-won)<\/p>\n

As for North Korean holidays, Kim Il-sung's birthday (April 15th) and Kim Jong-il's birthday (February 16th) are the most important. Next are Lunar New Year, Chuseok, the Day of the Foundation of the Republic (September 9), and Party Foundation Day.<\/p>\n

On holidays, \"special holiday rations\" had long been given to the people by the \"Great Leader.\" Rice, liquor, cooking oil, school supplies, and confectionery gift boxes were among the goods provided. The purpose was to promote Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il\u2019s \u2018benevolent politics\u2019 and greatness. The People's Councils, which are the local governments, would procure funds and supplies from within their municipal areas and distribute them to residents.<\/p>\n

\u25c6 Quality of gifts drops due to economic difficulties<\/h2>\n

However, due to economic difficulties, the quality and quantity of these rations have gone down since the 1980s. In recent years, residents were given a crudely made toothbrushing gift box and a bottle of cooking oil, and students received a bag of snacks and a pair of sneakers. Even such items were not always provided. Residents who are accustomed to using quality Chinese products bought from the market do not appreciate these gifts nor do they expect to receive them.<\/p>\n

The reason the \u201cspecial rations\u201d on holidays were continued to be doled out by the Kim Jong-un regime, despite their nominal effects, was because of concerns that the authority of the regime would be damaged if it did not show the \u2018consideration of the Great Leader for the people.\u2019<\/p>\n

Still, it seems that, with the measly \"gifts\" provided on Kim Jong-il's birthday last February, the \"special rations\" have become a thing of the past. According to an investigation by ASIAPRESS, at least in a number of cities in the Yanggang, North Pyongan and North Hamkyung provinces, the rations were not distributed at all.<\/p>\n

The reporting partner who participated in the investigation said,
\n\"There are no 'special holiday rations' for ordinary residents. The festive atmosphere is diminishing every year. Even factories and enterprises that have to prepare for the rations on their own account have been mostly unable to provide any rations. Police stations and the Security Department (secret police) procured funds to come up with a little cooking oil and sugar.<\/p>\n

Next page: End of the special rations...<\/strong><\/p>\n

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(Reference Photo) People lined up in front of a state-run shop to receive special holiday rations. Taken in North Hwanghae Province by Shim Ui-chun, September 2008 (ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 End of the special rations<\/h2>\n

Meanwhile, the Party and trading companies under the military that have made profits distributed lavish \"holiday rations\" out of their own pockets. A reporting partner who investigated the situation said,<\/p>\n

\"For example, a trading company named 'Unpasan' gave out one kilogram of pork, one kilogram of artificial seasoning, two kilograms of sugar, 4.8 kilograms of cooking oil, and a Chinese duck to the employees. This has brought on the envy of others and people aspire to work for companies like these that provide good benefits to employees.\"<\/p>\n

But why did the state\u2019s 'holiday rations' disappear? It is possible that it was because of the deterioration of the economy caused by the strict economic sanctions of the international community, but this may not be the only reason.<\/p>\n

Since last year, the Kim Jong-un regime has been gradually introducing a \"nothing for free\" policy. In regional cities, public bus and train fares and electricity prices were raised significantly. The state is collecting money from the public sector, where deficits had been overlooked under socialism. In this regard, there has been a voice of opposition among the common people and they are saying, \"What kind of socialism is this?\" However, it is surely a measure in accordance with economic rationality.<\/p>\n

Even if the \"holiday rations\" are of pathetic quality that have been disregarded by the people, it is costly to provide them to the entire population. The financial burden of the local People's Council, imposed by the central government, is not negligible. Besides, the people are not thankful for these gifts. It is possible that the \u201cspecial holiday rations\u201d were abandoned after reviewing the cost-effectiveness.<\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS contacts its reporting partners by bringing Chinese mobile phones into North Korea.<\/p>\n

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\uff1cRelated Article\uff1e<\/div>\n