North Korean Economy Watch

Download it to your Google Earth here! 
(substantial improvements over version 1)

Using numerous maps, articles, and interviews I have mapped out North Korea by “industry” (or topic) on Google Earth. This is the most authoritative map of North Korea that exists publicly today.

Agriculture, aviation, cultural, manufacturing, railroad, energy, politics, sports, military, religion, leisure, national parks…they are all here, and will captivate anyone interested in North Korea for hours.

Naturally, I cannot vouch for the authenticity of many locations since I have not seen or been to them, but great efforts have been made to check for authenticity. In many cases, I have posted sources, though not for all. This is a thorough compilation of lots of material, but I will leave it up to the reader to make up their own minds on the more “controversial” locations. In time, I hope to expand this further by adding canal and road networks.

I hope this post will launch a new interest in North Korea. There is still plenty more to learn, and I look forward to hearing about improvements that can be made.

KCNA
5/21/2007

The architecture in the DPRK has entered a new phase of its development in the Songun era.

The leader-immortality architecture reflects the unshakable will of the Korean people to attend President Kim Il Sung as the eternal image and to glorify his revolutionary exploits.

The Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the sacred temple of Juche, is a symbol and pattern of architecture for the immortality of the leader.

The Kumsusan Assembly Hall where President Kim Il Sung had conducted indefatigable activities for the Korean revolution and the global cause of independence was named Kumsusan Memorial Palace and built as a sacred temple more than 10 years ago, with the result that a new history of architecture for the immortality of the leader was created.

All structural elements and detailed decorations of the palace from the formation of the elevation to the palace square and stone gates mirror the faith and will of the servicepersons and the people to hold the President in high esteem forever.

Towers of immortality have been erected in different parts of the country. Inscribed in them is the slogan of faith “The great leader Comrade Kim Il Sung will always be with us”.

Typical of them is the tower of immortality built in the entrance of Kumsong Street in Pyongyang.

The tower built across the street has two arch-type openings in the foundation. Inscribed in relief are the immortal slogan on the front and back sides of the tower body flanked by magnolia flowers, the national flower.

The Monument to Party Founding and the Monument to the Victorious Battle of Musan Area, grand monumental edifices in the Songun era, are also associated with the revolutionary exploits of President Kim Il Sung.

The Monument to Party Founding depicts the emblem of the Workers’ Party of Korea in a unique way. A hammer, a sickle and a writing-brush tightly grasped in the hands of a worker, a peasant and an intellectual are vertically erected, surrounded by a girdle. The body of the Monument to the Victorious Battle of Musan Area is a vertically standing rifle, the main theme, unlike other monuments. The monuments depict well in a symbolic method the exploits of the President who founded the WPK and pioneered Songun.

The architectural edifices for the immortality of the leader will be handed down long in accordance with the noble moral obligation of the servicepersons and people to attend President Kim Il Sung as the Sun of Juche and eternal leader.

Daily NK
Kim Min Se
3/6/2007

Expectations of foreign aid affected the stability of prices

In early March, the rice price in North Korean markets continues to inch downward before the spring lean period.

The research conducted by DailyNK correspondents on rice prices show that they fluctuate between 800 won to 900 won.

The price of 1kg of rice at Chungjin Market was around 900 won early in March, 750 won in Hamheung, and 700 won in Pyongyang and Hwanghae province. In October, 2006, just after the nuclear test, the price of rice was approximately 1,000 won to 1,100 won.

The spring leaning period usually starts in April because the amount of current rice in markets diminishes when rice and cereals reduce and the demand of rice increases.

The rice price declines mainly because the supply of rice traded through China.

After the nuclear test, the North Korean government imported 7423 tons of rice in October, 910 tons in November, and 3928 tons in December from China, according to the Unification Ministry and KOTRA. The Unification Ministry analyzed that the decrease in rice costs is an unprecedented case.

The total expected output of rice is 4.3 million tons according to WFP and Rural Development Administration of South Korea. Some experts analyzed that the supply of food may be enough to meet the demand. They believe this because the rice price is stable and moving downward.

It is expected that the price of rice will remain stable for a while rice price lasts for a while. They believe because people expect the food aid from foreign countries after reaching the 2.13 agreement at the six party talks. On the other hand, there are those that believe that the statistics of rice prices are irrelevant to effect of the real lives of North Korean people.