The Nuclear Urge

For John, BLUF:  North Korea has been limping along economically for some time as it fights off sanctions for its nuclear development program and tries to make a command economy work.  For example, the Arduous March famine (94-98) killed some 240,000 to 3,500,000 North Koreans out of a total population of some 22 million.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Gaps between market prices in different North Korean regions are growing

Here is the sub-headline:

Chinese food product prices are 45% to 250% higher in Hoeryong than in Pyongsong

From The Daily NK, by Reporter Seulkee Jang, 8 April 2021, 10:00am.

Here is the lede plus four:

Amid North Korea’s attempts to strengthen control over its markets following the closure of the country’s borders last year, the gap between market prices in different regions has been growing more pronounced recently.

Differences in prices between regions in North Korea have steadily decreased as North Korean marketization has created more diverse means of transport.  Much of this can be attributed to the increase in North Korean servi-cha, which are vehicles that operate like a taxi or courier service and can traverse the entire country within a single day.

Despite the increase of oil prices due to international sanctions, there has been few gaps between commodity prices in different areas of the country.  However, as North Korean authorities tightened their control over travel between different areas of the country following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, markets – which rely on stable logistics networks to thrive – have suffered.

A source recently told Daily NK that 450 grams of Chinese flavor enhancer was selling for KPW 165,000 at a market in Hoeryong, North Hamgyong Province, on Mar. 25.  One kilogram of sugar cost KPW 45,000, while one kilogram of Chinese flour was KPW 28,000.

Before the authorities enforced the border blockade in January of last year, 450 grams of Chinese flavor enhancer sold at the same market for KPW 5,000, while one kilogram of sugar and flour sold for KPW 5,500 and KPW 4,700, respectively.

I don't see any way Noth Korean Dictator Kim Jung-un is giving up his nuclear weapons. None.  I am sure he drew conclusions from the way we treated Libya strongman Muammar Gaddafi after he gave up his own nuclear weapons program.

Neither China nor Russia have interest in helping us deal with North Korea.

Our hope of ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program rests in reunification of the Korean Peninsula following the collapse of the North Korean Government.  That collapse will result when the People have had enough and refuse to do more.  When is the $64 Question.  In the mean time North Korea limps along economically, with tens of thousands on the edge.

Regards  —  Cliff