Mick Hartley

Considering that public pronouncements from the North Korean leadership never usually vary from a relentless insistence that all is for the best in the best of all Socialist paradises, this has to be an indication of how seriously they view the current situation:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has admitted failing to deliver an acceptable standard of living for the communist nation's people, according to state media.

Rodong Sinmun, the official daily newspaper of the ruling Communist Party, quoted Kim as saying much remains to be desired in people's quality of life although the country has become "politically and militarily powerful".

Kim's father, Kim Il-Sung, who died in 1994, has been named as president for eternity of North Korea.

"The president has said that people should be allowed to eat white rice and meat soup, wear silk clothes and live under tiled roofs," Kim Jong-Il was quoted as saying by Rodong.

"But we've so far failed to carry out this goal," he said. "I will certainly resolve the issue of people's livelihood within the shortest possible period and achieve the president's last wish," he said.

This is, presumably, some kind of response to the unprecedented wave of unrest that's swept the country since the great currency confiscation of last month. Does this mean that the Dear Leader is reconsidering his new policy of relentlessly destroying any markets which exist outside of total state control? Of course it doesn't:

North Korean authorities are to close down Soonam market in Chungjin, North Hamgyong Province in March following the shutdown of Pyongsung market in South Pyongan Province last June. The cabinet decided on a measure to cease the operation management of the Soonam market on December 30, which practically means a closure. Hereafter, North Hamgyong Provincial Party Committee will take charge of the closing process and take the party leadership initiative. The provincial party decided “to implement a propaganda campaign project in order to control opinions and utterances of the residents.” The intention is to eradicate possible strong resistance of the residents by means of a carefully designed ideology campaign….

The decision to close Soonam market is expected to shock the residents who rely on trading just like the closing down of Pyonsung market. Soonam market is well-known as ‘the Republic’s Wholesale Market’ along with Pyongsung market. It is a market with the most commercial activities in the country, and business in trucks is active in particular. As such, the market was regarded by the North Korean authorities as a breeding ground of anti-socialist phenomena, especially unlawful activities. Soonam market is also a place where a group of female merchants protested in opposition to a measure that banned women under 50 from doing business in March, 2008, which perplexed the Central Party.

A South Hamgyong Provincial Party official explained, “There is no other reason for the Party to close down Soonam market than to pave the way to the Strong and Prosperous Nation.” Currently, approximately more than 40% of residents of Chungjin are estimated to rely on Soonam market, so the impact of its closure is expected to be substantial. Households that make livings by trading at the market are deeply concerned about their future without the market already.

As it happens, Chungjin – North Korea's third largest city, and a major port – is the location for Barbara Demick's Nothing to Envy: Real Lives in North Korea, already out in the States, and released here next month in paperback. Joshua at OneFreeKorea calls it "the single best book about North Korea I’ve read yet". I quoted part of a review here. And, via A&L Daily, here's the LA Times review.