Mick Hartley

Hard times? Try North Korea:

According to a Chongjin source on August 31st, corner spots within the South Chongjin market in the Nanam region of the city have been occupied by individuals selling their own used goods. Referred locally to as “Stalls of Tears” they are a source of sympathy and pity from the local people. 

The source said the poorest of the poor can be seen in the market selling their used household goods to scrape together enough money to eat. Their destitute station makes for a miserable sight. “They sell whatever they can,” said the source, “starting with their cutlery and more or less anything of saleable value. Some have nothing to sell apart from used empty rice sacks.” 

Such people used to get by on a rice gruel made of potato or pumpkin. Now, said the source, unable to acquire the ingredients even for this they have taken to selling their possessions in the market. Often, however, they fail to make any sales and take back home what they brought. Unable to pay the market stall fees, they are not seen again the following day. 

“They have no land, no fields or such and so no hope for tomorrow,” added the source. “They came to sell their possessions in order to stay alive. But they hardly make anything and can expect little beyond the destruction of their family or death.”