{"id":4573,"date":"2020-05-11T18:22:33","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T09:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.01.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/?p=4573"},"modified":"2022-05-16T18:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T09:01:10","slug":"mass-protest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.02.asiapress.org\/rimjin-gang\/2020\/05\/recommendations\/mass-protest\/","title":{"rendered":"\uff1cInside N. Korea\uff1e Rising Prices, Rising Tensions: Merchants Confront Police in Protest over Regime\u2019s Market Regulations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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(File Photo) A market supervisor scolds a young woman (left) for not paying the market fee. Photographed in Pyeongseong, South Pyongan Province in March, 2013 (ASIAPRESS)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u25c6 Nervous residents frustrated by economic deterioration<\/h2>\n

Residents are becoming increasingly agitated as the economy continues to deteriorate due to the Kim Jong-un regime\u2019s strong coronavirus prevention measures and decision to close the border. At markets, struggling merchants are confronting authorities, protesting against the government\u2019s market crackdowns and price interventions. (Kang Ji-won \/ ISHIMARU Jiro)<\/p>\n

North Korea closed its border with China in late January to stop the influx of the coronavirus, bringing trade almost entirely to a halt. This brought an immediate rise in the prices of imported goods, prompting the authorities to set price ceilings for rice and Chinese-made goods. Since February, police officials have been monitoring prices at markets and cracking down on merchants found to be selling at higher rates.<\/p>\n

If merchants are found to be exceeding the set prices, police are authorized to confiscate their supplies. At the same time, Kim Jong-un\u2019s concern for the strength of the local currency has prompted authorities to confiscate RMB and other foreign currency from merchants who are caught handling it at markets.<\/p>\n

\u25c6 Tension rising at the markets as merchants resentment with authorities boils over<\/h2>\n

A reporting partner living in Hyesan City, Ryanggang Province, told ASIAPRESS of a recent incident witnessed at the market on May 3, saying \u201cThe constant pressure of the police\u2019s crackdown caused one of the merchants to snap. He yelled at the officer, \u2018You tell us don\u2019t do this, don\u2019t do that! How are we supposed to live?\u2019 A commotion erupted with many merchants arguing loudly with the police. The atmosphere at the market had certainly become much more tense. It seemed like it would absolutely explode that day. It is said to be much the same in other cities.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is not known if that particular incident was the cause, but the attitude of the police officer was much different in the week after, according to the reporting partner. The Ministry of People\u2019s Security has apparently ordered local governments \u201cto not allow crackdown officers to violate residents\u2019 human rights.\u201d The phrase \u201cdo not violate human rights\u201d was said to be used explicitly by the authorities.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, there are said to be many cases of dissatisfied residents reporting merchants for charging prices that exceed the government\u2019s limits.<\/p>\n

North Korea\u2019s exports to China amounted to just $610,000 in March, down 96.2% from the year before, according to trade statistics released by the Chinese customs authorities on April 23. According to the data, imports fell 90.8% from the year before, to a total of $18.03 million.<\/p>\n

The sharp decline in trade has devastated the North Korean economy, causing many residents to lament, \u201cWe will starve to death before we die of the coronavirus.\u201d Although there are rumors that trade with China may be resumed in late May or early June, the outlook remains unclear.<\/p>\n

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

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