UPDATE:Here is V. Pomnyun’s outline: pomnyun.pdf
NKeconWatch notes:
Agriculture: April – June are the lean months. In July 2008 potatoes helped alleviate food shortage. Also aid from West. Things began to get worse in August and September.
Earlier this year, the price of rice was up to 5x higher than a year ago. In June-July it fell to 3x higher. Now it is creeping back up.
Arduous March: In the 1990s, urban residents of North Hamgyong Province was the worst affected by famine. Today, the worst affected are the farmers and rural residents of Hwangae (he did not specify north or south). Shortage as bad as 1st arduous march, but fewer consumers and markets feed cities now.
Markets: protests in Chongjin. People chanted, “Give us food or let us trade.” None of the protests are political, just expressions of frustration.
Nukes:Nuclear weapons are a domestic propaganda weapon as well. Not just a matter of foreign policy.
Original Post:
Program details here
Wednesday, September 24
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Rome Auditorium at SAIS
1619 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20036
RSVP here
The Venerable Pomnyun Sunim, Chairman of Good Friends and The Peace Foundation, will discuss the current political and social climate in North Korea, including the spread of the black market economy and the increase in political control over North Korea’s elite. Joining his discussion, is Dr. Cho Seong-ryoul, Director of the New Security Studies Program at the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), who will offer his insights on current and future inter-Korean relations.
