Seasons in the Kingdom

Seasons in the Kingdom

Friday, August 3, 2012

Needing a New Five Year Plan?

N.Korea Needs Bold Reforms to Feed Its People

North Korea has embarked on agricultural reforms, reducing basic farming units in some areas from the present 10 to 25 people to family units of just four to six, and increasing cash crops the farmers can sell in the market. These and other agricultural measures announced late last month appear aimed at boosting crop output through incentives.

There are unconfirmed reports that the agricultural reforms are being carried out on a trial basis in three provinces, with 30 percent of grain output being allotted to individuals. (Click title for full article)

Related article:

China's Fresh Crackdown on N.Koreans?

The announcement of a massive five-month crackdown on North Korean defectors by security forces in China's Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture has triggered a rush of speculation. The aim appears to be to choke off that escape route from impoverished North Korea once and for all.

Yanbian lies just across the Duman River from North Korea and has been the major transit route for North Korean refugees. Many starving North Koreans cross the border at the mid- or upper regions of the river which tend to be narrower than the lower reaches. In Yanbian they find clandestine work in restaurants, factories or farms.

The number of North Koreans in this region, which at one time was estimated to be over 30,000, has dwindled recently, and experts estimate there are fewer than 15,000 left. But North Koreans are constantly crossing the border, and recently some armed North Korean soldiers escaped and frightened local residents.

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