North Korea recently suspended all trade activities in the Hyesan border area in preparation for Kim Jong Un’s on-site inspection of Samjiyon on July 11 and 12.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Daily NK source in Yanggang Province said authorities “suspended not only trade through Hyesan Customs but also all state-led smuggling in the border areas of Yanggang Province between July 10 and 20.” He said import prices had risen across the board as a result.
The suspension of trade was a measure resulting from Kim’s on-site inspection to Samjiyon, but people only learned of it after North Korea’s official media reported it, the source said. Only then, did people let out a knowing gasp of exasperation, he added.
“Every time the Supreme Leader makes an on-site visit, the crackdown and restrictions are intensified and life is made more difficult,” the source said. “This time, people’s lives are getting harder as all cross-border transactions are blocked.”
Prices fluctuate following suspension of trade
Indeed, the prices of imported goods in Hyesan’s markets and shops have generally risen with the suspension of trade and smuggling at the border. On the other hand, export prices are falling.
People who have a lot of goods to sell use the 10-day suspension of imports to gradually raise the prices of imported goods, while smugglers who buy export goods such as medicinal herbs or minerals use the opportunity to buy their goods cheaply, causing export prices to drop.
In particular, people selling medicinal herbs have been selling their goods at lower prices because they will get moldy in the hot, humid summer weather if they do not sell them quickly.
According to the source, a kilogram of medicinal herbs is currently selling for RMB 65, RMB 15 lower than on July 10, when it sold for RMB 80.
“In Hyesan, people’s lives only get a little better when smuggling and distribution go well,” the source said. “But smuggling has stopped for about 10 days, so market-based business and ordinary people’s lives have gotten even worse.”
Under the circumstances, residents in the border areas of Yangang Province reacted quite negatively to Kim’s on-site inspection to Samjiyon, the source said. In particular, people whispered about reports that Kim sharply rebuked local officials during his visit to Samjiyon.
“People say you can’t expect things to turn out right if all you do is issue orders for government construction but tell people to carry them out in the spirit of self-reliance,” he said. “Because everyone knows that nothing will change just because you punish or dismiss some officials, no one really cares that some officials have been reprimanded.”
Rodong Sinmun reported that on July 11 and 12, Kim conducted an on-the-spot inspection of Samjiyon to review progress on various construction projects.
Daily NK works with a network of sources living in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. Their identities remain anonymous for security reasons.
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July 19, 2024 at 01:05PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)