{"id":4241,"date":"2019-06-17T17:28:06","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T08:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4241"},"modified":"2019-06-20T11:18:27","modified_gmt":"2019-06-20T02:18:27","slug":"massgame-stop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2019\/06\/recommendations\/massgame-stop\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e Empty Stomachs, Empty Stands: Mass Games Suspended as Regime Fails to Feed Mobilized Students"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mass Games which started on June 3. As browncasted by Chosen Central Television<\/p><\/div>\n

A travel agency that operates tours to North Korea has stated that the daily performances of \u201cPeople\u2019s Country\u201d, the mass games spectacle which began in Pyongyang on June 3, would be suspended from June 10. While reports state that Kim Jong-un criticized the production value of the show, it seems that financial constraints had already precluded the possibility of continued performances. It has been revealed that students, mobilized from the provinces to perform in the mass games, were suffering from hunger due to inadequately supplied meals. The regime\u2019s financial woes appear to have prevented it from securing enough food for participants. (Kang Ji-won\/ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

In late May, just before the mass games began, an ASIAPRESS reporting partner living in North Hamkyung province met with an official in charge of mobilizing the children to participate in the performance\u2019s group gymnastics section. The partner reported the following.<\/p>\n

\u25c6 Participating children call home crying of empty stomachs<\/h2>\n

For this year\u2019s mass games, 60% of the students, including those selected to perform gymnastics, were mobilized from the provinces. Children from regional art troupes, army bands, and art and dance schools were brought to Pyongyang. Once in the capital, they would stay in shared accommodation for the length of the mass games.<\/p>\n

The biggest problem the children face is a lack of proper meals.<\/p>\n

According to a parent of an art and dance student, \u201cIt\u2019s heartbreaking for us parents to get calls from our children in Pyongyang crying about being hungry. Our children say on the phone that each meal consists of only about 160 grams of Chinese rice and a side of preserved radish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pyongyang officials in charge of the mobilized children tried to calm down the concerned parents by saying, \u201cAs they are now rehearsing, the meals are inadequate, but the supply will improve once the performances are underway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Money has also become a burden for the parents. A parent who sent their child to Pyongyang said, \u201cWe have to give about 400,000 won (about 55,000 South Korean won) to our children. They need between 30,000 and 50,000 won a month for costume repairs and transportation expenses. On top of that, our hungry children need money to buy bread and snacks to eat.\u201d
\nNext page : A shortage of participants in the card section due to dropouts...<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u25c6 A shortage of participants in the card section due to dropouts<\/h2>\n

There are also many dropouts amongst the students participating in the card section. There are usually 5 students for every 70 participants who are trained in reserve but more are now needed as an increasing number of children are dropping out due to hunger and disease, such as flu and colon infection.<\/p>\n

There are 12 cafeterias and stalls set up around the May Day Stadium where participants can go to buy a quick bite to eat during rehearsal breaks. Children without money, however, have no choice but to rest and continue on an empty stomach.<\/p>\n

Participants mobilized from the provinces are managed in a military-style manner. Since they are not allowed to leave the shared accommodation and have no personal time, they call to complain to their parents over the phone.<\/p>\n

\u25c6 An unusual suspension after criticism by Kim Jong-un<\/h2>\n

The gymnastics group was scheduled to continue performances into early October. However, as a main attraction for tourists on package tours, the contents of the mass games must first be carefully reviewed and reported to Kim Jong-un. But, on the day of the first performance, the mass games were suspended after receiving criticism from the leader.<\/p>\n

The reason for the unusual suspension of the performances is not entirely clear. It is possible that Kim Jong-un, upon watching the spectacle, criticized the performance for its shortage of participants. It is also possible that the performances were suspended under the pretext of the leader\u2019s criticism, as there is little guarantee of a stable supply of meals for participants during the long schedule of performances.<\/p>\n

North Korea\u2019s mass games have long been criticized for \u201cmaking a spectacle\u201d of abused children and students.<\/p>\n

\u203b ASIAPRESS contacts its reporting partners through smuggled Chinese mobile phones.<\/p>\n

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