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Sangyon e-commerce system introduced (and Jonsong Card)

Tuesday, September 8th, 2015

KCNA issued a story today that raised some eyebrows:

Electronic Commerce System ‘Sangyon’ Introduced in DPRK

Pyongyang, September 8 (KCNA) — The Institute of the Commercial Science in the DPRK developed “Sangyon”, an electronic commerce system.

The system makes it possible to ensure business through local network with credit card issued by the Central Bank.

This 24-hour service system has already been introduced to the West Pyongyang Department Store and many other commercial units, winning popularity among its users.

The reason this story raised eyebrows was the mention of a “credit card”. I had to go to the original Korean article to see if the word “credit card” was ever used. Here is the original Korean:

(평양 9월 8일발 조선중앙통신)

조선에서 전자상업체계 《상연》이 개발되여 봉사활동에 도입되고있다.

상업과학연구소에서 내놓은 이 체계는 국가콤퓨터망을 통하여 상품소개 및 판매,상업정보소개를 진행하는 전자결제방식의 상업봉사체계이다.

이 체계는 중앙은행에서 발행하는 《전성》카드를 리용하여 손님들이 상점에 가지 않고도 필요한 상품에 대한 검색과

주문,카드를 리용한 전자결제와 송달을 받을수 있게 한다.

손님들의 상품수요를 실시간적으로 장악하여 생산단위들에 맞물려준다.

전국적범위에서 상업발전추세에 맞게 무현금류통을 늘이고 상품구입의 편리성을 도모해주는 전자상업체계는 24시간 봉사하고있다.

서평양백화점을 비롯한 많은 단위에 도입되여 사용자들로부터 호평을 받고있는 전자상업체계는 계속 확대도입되고있다.(끝)

The Korean report is quite different from the English version. It says that they have developed an e-commerce system called Sangyong 《상연》. On this system, available 24-hours a day no less, companies can list products, provide information, and consumers can actually make purchases for delivery. This system accepts the Jonsong card [《전성》카드] (a pre-pay card issued by the Central Bank in local currency) for payment.

UPDATE (2016-3-10): Simon Cockerell has posted a photo of a Jonsong Card to his Instagram Account:

The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang later posted a picture of a Jonsong Card flyer to their Facebook page. Here is the flyer and a loose translation:

Here is a rough translation:

“Instructions for using the Jonsong Deposit Card
1. About the Jonsong Card
With the help of the Jonsong electronic payment card, you can easily and quickly pay for services and purchase goods without resorting tocash payment. Money transfers to card holders nationwide and cash out the funds available in the account are also possible.
2. Functions of the Jonsong Card
*You can purchase a card and deposit funds into your account at bank offices or at officially accredited home service points. *When making a card, you need to remember its number and password.
*You can pay with the Jonsong card anywhere in the household service where terminals for payment by bank cards are installed.
*Using the card, you can remotely buy different software and goods in electronic stores via electronic calculation on the state computer or mobile network. This requires registration in the bank branch that issued a card.
*Withdrawal of funds from the card is carried out at the request of its owner in the city and county branches of the Central Bank. In bank offices and home service points upon request of the owner, it is possible to replenish the card by allocating some of the funds available on the card to an active deposit. Active deposit is a form of placement of funds on the card that allows to offline calculation at the points of household services. The amount of active deposit cannot be cashed, it can be used only to pay for services and goods.
*Money transfers from card to card nationwide are also possible, for which you need to report the number of the recipient’s card.
*Information about the balance of funds on the account is indicated on the check after making a purchase with the help of a card.
*The card password can be changed in the bank’s office or the home service points by providing the current password. It should consist of 4-6 digits.
*In case you forgot your password, you should confirm in the bank branch that you are the owner of this card, which will require an ID or card transaction history. Once you pass the identification, you will be able to install a new password and continue using the card.
*In case of card loss, you should contact the bank branch to block the remaining funds. If the card was found, you need to re-contact the bank to unlock the funds and restore its effect.
*In case of impossibility to continue using the card or its irrevocable loss, the card reissue is provided. To do this, the applicant should undergo the identification procedure in the bank branch and transfer funds from the old card account. Identification goes the same way as when you recover your password.
3. Questions and addresses
If you have any questions about how to use the card or would like to report it missing, call the following phone numbers:
*For inquiries about the procedure for using the card: 370-2222
*For inquiries about payment on the state computer or mobile network: 02-472-1401

Here is some additional info from the Russian Embassy:

“Bank cards firmly entered the daily life of citizens of North Korea. With the advent of cashless payment, paying in stores, restaurants and other household services has become much easier – paying for goods and services takes seconds, no longer need to count the delivery and carry large amounts of money with you. There are several variants of cards: some can be replenished exclusively with foreign currency, others can only be replenished with N. Korean Won. The latter includes a picture of the Central Bank of North Korea.”

The Institute for Far Eastern Studies (2015-8-28) had this to say about the Jonsong Card:

Use of electronic payment cards expands in North Korea

It appears that the use of electronic payment cards in North Korea is spreading as North Korea’s central bank releases a new payment card. Photos of the card (called ‘Jonsong’) have been uploaded to social networking sites like Instagram and Facebook by foreigners currently in North Korea. The card is issued by the Central Bank of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (hereafter ‘North Korea Central Bank’).

Until now, North Korean’s primary credit cards have been the ‘Narae’ card, issued by the North Korea Foreign Trade Bank in 2010, and the ‘Koryo’ card, issued by Koryo Bank in 2011. ‘Narae,’ a foreign currency debit card, can be used at locations like hotels or foreign currency shops after card-owners load it with foreign currency at a bank; the affiliate card ‘Koryo’ can be used when paying for services or products at shops that have a payment system and deal in foreign currency.

Recently, Yonhap News released a photo of the electronic payment card ‘Sonbong,’ reporting that the card is now in use. The card is issued by the Golden Triangle Bank and can be used in the Rason Special Economic Zone. Both the Sonbong and Narae cards feature a yellow electronic chip on the front of the card. In contrast, North Korea Central Bank’s recently confirmed Chonsong card does not display such a chip and contains a red and blue diamond-shaped design in the lower right-hand corner.

It has not yet been confirmed whether this is a general electronic payment card or if it is intended for specific purposes. In a February 2015 interview with the Japan-based Choson Sinbo, the president of North Korea Central Bank revealed, “North Korea Central Bank is focusing on satisfying the capital requirements that arise in a country’s economic construction by turning over domestic funds more smoothly […] As part of that effort, it is pushing forward the development of new financial products as well as the use of cards in people’s daily lives.”

It is estimated that approximately 4 billion dollars are circulated and held privately by North Korean citizens. As a step to legalize that currency, it is widely known that North Korea implemented the ‘cooperative currency system’ (effective March 1, 2013), inducing individuals and agencies to open and use foreign currency accounts and actively encouraging the use of cards.

These days, foreigners visiting North Korea pay for hotel rooms, taxi fares, and other products with the Narae card after charging it with foreign currency.

Posted in Banking, Central Bank, Finance, Fiscal & monetary policy | Comments Closed

Why won’t North Korean trees grow like Kim Jong-un told them to?

Friday, September 4th, 2015

By Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein

The forestry campaign that Kim Jong-un launched in a speech earlier this year continues. According to a new brief by IFES, North Korean state media has criticized certain nurseries for poor management.

North Korea has once again come out on broadcast television criticizing the poor management of tree nurseries at some of its Forest Management Centers. This public criticism of the forest restoration effort comes after the emergence of Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yeo Jong, as an influential figure in the Department of Propaganda and Agitation.

On August 26, 2015, Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired a program entitled, Let’s Go Forward in Patriotism and Strength in the Forest Restoration Battle. The broadcast criticized several Forest Management Centers, including one in North Hwanghae Province’s Songnim. “They set up sun shades carelessly and then do not even water saplings properly. As a result saplings have become withered and yellow,” the program alleged.

The broadcast went on to a scathing critique of the tree nursery’s poor management: “The spraying equipment also does not properly work […] No more than 30% of the trees are alive […] The soil is overgrown with weeds […] One of the trees still has not sprouted.”

It also condemned the management of the Kangdong County tree nursery. “Because they do not properly conduct fertilizer management and also do not follow water guarantee measures, the saplings turn yellow and wither away. In the vegetable gardens there is so much seaweed that it is difficult to tell whether they are fields of saplings or meadows.”

“The fact that saplings can not grow properly is not due to unfavorable climate conditions but the defeatist and ‘non-owner’ work attitudes of the Forest Management Center workers and tree nursery work groups, who half-heartedly do their work and quit,” the broadcast added.

It went on to say, “When the workers use their heads creatively and engage in the work enterprisingly, great results are achieved in the expansion of the country’s permanent assets […] If all combatants in the forest restoration work sincerely, the Party’s forest restoration plans will be moved forward.”

One could of course argue that the issues described might result from the disconnect between political orders and constraints on the ground. For example, it has been reported that tree species that would suit local conditions in certain parts of the country would take at least three years to produce, but that the central government authorities want things to proceed immediately anyway. I am no forestry expert but it seems like a difficult task for even the most stern of political orders to make trees grow properly in the wrong conditions.

The full text of the IFES brief is available here:

North Korean Broadcast Criticizes Forest Restoration Results

The Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University

2015-09-03

Posted in Agriculture, Forestry, Lumber, Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Land and Environment Conservation | 1 Comment »

North Korean Broadcast Criticizes Forest Restoration Results

Thursday, September 3rd, 2015

Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES)
2015-9-3

North Korea has once again come out on broadcast television criticizing the poor management of tree nurseries at some of its Forest Management Centers. This public criticism of the forest restoration effort comes after the emergence of Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yeo Jong, as an influential figure in the Department of Propaganda and Agitation.

On August 26, 2015, Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired a program entitled, Let’s Go Forward in Patriotism and Strength in the Forest Restoration Battle. The broadcast criticized several Forest Management Centers, including one in North Hwanghae Province’s Songnim. “They set up sun shades carelessly and then do not even water saplings properly. As a result saplings have become withered and yellow,” the program alleged.

The broadcast went on to a scathing critique of the tree nursery’s poor management: “The spraying equipment also does not properly work […] No more than 30% of the trees are alive […] The soil is overgrown with weeds […] One of the trees still has not sprouted.”

It also condemned the management of the Kangdong County tree nursery. “Because they do not properly conduct fertilizer management and also do not follow water guarantee measures, the saplings turn yellow and wither away. In the vegetable gardens there is so much seaweed that it is difficult to tell whether they are fields of saplings or meadows.”

“The fact that saplings can not grow properly is not due to unfavorable climate conditions but the defeatist and ‘non-owner’ work attitudes of the Forest Management Center workers and tree nursery work groups, who half-heartedly do their work and quit,” the broadcast added.

It went on to say, “When the workers use their heads creatively and engage in the work enterprisingly, great results are achieved in the expansion of the country’s permanent assets […] If all combatants in the forest restoration work sincerely, the Party’s forest restoration plans will be moved forward.”

KCTV aired a similar broadcast on April 2015 called, Let’s Honor the Noble Wishes of the Party and Make the Whole Country a Primeval Forest. This broadcast said that the forest restoration work had run into some snags and berated people connected to the Forest Management Center.

Posted in Forestry, Ministry of Forestry | Comments Closed

How the North Korean media describes a market

Tuesday, August 25th, 2015

By Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein

A recent brief from IFES (08-07-2015) details how an article in the North Korean newspaper Tongil Ilbo describes sales at Kwangbok market in Pyongyang (emphasis added):

According to the Tongil Ilbo, there are now a number of local products sold at Pyongyang’s Kwangbok Area Supermarket, which was built in October 1991. “By achieving the informatization and computerization of all business activities, from warehousing to the sale of goods, the Kwangbok Area Supermarket guarantees accuracy and speed in its service. It is a commercial service center managed to guarantee the maximum convenience of its customers,” North Korea’s independent newspaper reported on July 11, 2015.

It explained that the Kwangbok Area Supermarket, which has a total floor area of 12,700 m2, sells household products, electronics, general textile products, and grocery products such as confectioneries on every floor. In addition, each North Korean brand is sold in the relevant department, including brands such as ‘Ryongmasan,’ ‘Kuryonggang,’ ‘Kumkop,’ ‘Hwawon,’ ‘Mirae,’ ‘Songchon,’ and ‘Bommaji.’

Located on the first floor, the grocery department displays local products produced by factories like the Pyongyang Flour Processing Factory, the Kumsong Food Factory, and the Kumkop General Foodstuff Factory for Sportspersons. “People like to purchase locally-produced products […] In the future public service networks like the Kwangbok Area Supermarket will emerge in other places as well,” the newspaper reported.

Kim Song Won, manager of the Kwangbok Area Supermarket, commented, “With the unprecedented growth of the country’s self-sustaining economic foundation, there is greater demand among the people for variety and quality in their products […] Accordingly, we are bringing in many domestic products and are working to provide services so that customers can purchase products that they like.”

Several things in this report are interesting to note. For example, while I am not sure that the market-oriented language is itself anything new in North Korean media lingo, the emphasis is striking. It is consumer preference that matters. Variety is considered important, not just the quality of the products. Again, Kim Il-sung too I believe talked about the importance of quality, but here it’s a matter of producing what people like, rather than what they need.

Read the full text:

IFES Kyungnam

Surge in Local Product Sales at Kwangbok Area Supermarket

08-07-2015

Tags:consumer products, markets, Supermarkets
Posted in Companies, DPRK organizations, Food | Comments Closed

DPRK insurance market updates

Monday, August 17th, 2015

UPDATE 2 (2015-10-23): The Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES) reports on additional developments in the DPRK’s insurance industry:

North Korean Insurance Company to Expand Insurance Offerings

On October 14, 2015, the state-owned North Korean insurance company, Korean National Insurance Corporation (KNIC), promoted its ongoing insurance programs at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, revealing that it will offer more types of insurance if North-South economic cooperation expands in the future.

As North Korea’s market economy has expanded under the Kim Jong Un regime, insurance aimed at the ‘protection of assets’ has also increased.

“In order to actively ensure joint economic development projects between the North and South using the economic space of insurance, in 2005 we started insuring the assets of businessmen from the South who come to the Kaesong Industrial Region,” KNIC announced on its homepage on October 14.

The company explained, “The types of insurance currently implemented are fire insurance, car insurance, and gas accident liability insurance […] In the future several insurance sectors will grow further commensurate with the increasing variety and expansion of North-South economic cooperation projects.”

The company emphasized that in the future it will offer insurance programs more practical for South Korean businesses at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

KNIC has also recently introduced new insurance products covering things like cell phones and fruit orchards.

However, Kaesong companies have reportedly not been enthusiastic about the products offered by KNIC. Not only is it difficult to trust the ability of North Korean insurance companies to pay out insurance money in the case of an insurance claim, but the insurance money itself is small. As a result, South Korean companies at Kaesong have been reluctant to enroll.

Meanwhile, KNIC revealed that it is strengthening its fire insurance services in accordance with North Korea’s recent construction of a number of new buildings such as the Masikryong Ski Resort, the Mirim Horse Riding Club, and the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport terminal.

“As we work to realize fire insurance guarantees of newly built or remodeled buildings in a timely manner, we are ensuring that insured companies are equipped with fire alarms and fire extinguishing facilities and experience improvements in risk management,” the insurance company declared.

It added, “We are also bringing in internationally recognized appraisal companies along with domestic appraisers to make sure that risk assessments of new insurance subjects proceed normally on-site.”

UPDATE 1 (2015-8-20): The Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES) reports on developments in the DPRK’s insurance market:

New Insurance Products Appearing in North Korea

All sorts of insurance products, such as cell phone insurance and insurance against damage to fruit farms, are starting to appear in North Korea.

The Korea National Insurance Corporation (the state insurance company representing North Korea), revealed on its website on August 12, 2015 that the issue of cell phone insurance was discussed at the annual general meeting of provincial governors held in Pyongyang in February 2015.

“At last year’s meeting, provincial governors from all over, including Pyongyang, North Hamgyong Province, Yanggang Province, and Jagang Province, met and introduced new areas of business such as cell phone insurance. They discussed increasing the number of insurance policy holders and expanding coverage to raise insurance premium revenue,” the insurance company reported.

Recently, as the number of cell phone owners shoots up, the instances of lost or damaged phones have also risen. It appears that this new form of insurance is being offered against this backdrop to compensate cell phone owners for such incidents. As in South Korea, it is not yet mandatory for North Korean cell phone owners to purchase cell phone insurance.

Currently, North Korea’s primary mobile carrier, the Egyptian firm Orascom, owns a 75% share in North Korea’s mobile communications company Koryo Link. As of the end of June 2014, the company had 2.4 million cell phone subscribers in North Korea.

The Korea National Insurance Corporation is also preparing to offer insurance for fruit trees in order to compensate owners of fruit farms for damage caused by natural disasters or other events.

The company explained the background behind offering this insurance product on their homepage. According to the website, since Kim Jong Un came to power, a lot of effort has been put into the development of agriculture and fruit farms, but due to recent abnormal climate phenomena like El Niño, these fields have experienced a lot of difficulties.

The website reveals, “Based on experience accumulated in the testing phase, we plan on offering insurance coverage within several years for modern, large-scale fruit farms like Taedong River Integrated Fruit Farm and Kangwon Province’s Kosan Fruit Farm.”

In order to do this, the company has been performing risk appraisals since 2013 with international damage appraisers for each of the fruit farms. This suggests that it is keeping foreign reinsurance companies and contracts in mind.

The company offers fruit farms insurance coverage for a variety of calamities and natural disasters. It covers fruit trees in the event of drought, landslides, or fire; fruit in the event of hail, drought, excessive moisture, extreme heat, or fire; and the quality of fruit in the event of hail, heavy rain, or storms.

The provision of insurance for fruit farms is seen as an extension of North Korea’s ongoing efforts to earn foreign currency through insurance companies.

The fact that various insurance products are appearing in North Korea has attracted attention in the context of North Korea’s recent economic developments. Since Kim Jong Un came to power, the regime has tried to recognize and protect private property as the market economy has expanded through the growth of companies’ independent management rights and the expansion of private profits. Especially in the case of insurance companies, it is believed that the regime is trying to maximize profits by generating additional income through insurance premiums.

ORIGINAL POST (2015-8-17): Elizabeth Shim reports the following at UPI:

On Tuesday, Pyongyang’s Korea National Insurance Corp. posted on its website information on annual meetings held in each province. Issues of mobile phone insurance were discussed during the meetings, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

The North Korean insurance firm said in statement that new businesses were being introduced to meet the increased demand for mobile phone insurance in Pyongyang and the provinces, South Korean television network SBS reported.

The mobile phone is becoming a central component of everyday life for many North Koreans, particularly for merchants who are on the road to sell wares around the country – but damage or loss of phones are raising the demand for insurance in the country.

Egyptian firm Orascom owns a 75 percent stake in North Korea’s main network, Koryolink, and offers services to 2.4 million North Koreans.

Other insurance mentioned include new policies for agriculture and protection plans for large-scale fruit farms by the Taedong River and in Kangwon province are being assembled, according to North Korea. The plans would provide protection against weather effects like “El Nino,” that is resulting in increased drought, torrential rain, high temperatures and other factors that are hurting crops.

The Korea National Insurance Corporation web page is here. Here are the two specific reports mentioned in the article:

Annual conference of provincial KNIC branches held

The annual conference of provincial branches of Korea National Insurance Corporation was held in Pyongyang on February 25th and 26th.

It was attended by head-office officials concerned and branch managers, and accountants thereof, of different provinces.

Its agenda involved review of last year’s insurance operations conducted by the provincial branches, and determination of their goals to be reached this year.

Great appreciation was shown in the conference for the branches including the ones in Pyongyang, North Hamgyong Province, Ryanggang and Jagang Provinces, all of which, last year, introduced new insurance products, like mobile phone insurance, into sale, and brought an increase in the number of the insureds and objects to result a rise in premium income, and made prompt indemnifications on a scientific basis thus contributing to the stabilization of operation, production of the insureds concerned and people’s lives, as well.

Stress was laid on adoption and development of effective business strategies plus further improvement and intensification of insurance operation upholding the slogan reading “ Let us all turn out in the general offensive to hasten final victory in the revolutionary spirit of Paektu!”, thus enhancing the role of insurance in line with the development of national economy and improvement of the livelihood of the people as befitting the significance of the year marking the 70th founding anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

Lectures were given on business practices involving accountancy and some insurance accounts during the conference.

Fruit Crop Insurance to be introduced in future

According to a far-reaching plan of Chairman Kim Jong Il and supreme leader Kim Jong Un to supply the people with fresh fruit in and out of season, Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm had been built as the best integrated base for fruit production, keeping production going on a high level, and furthermore, Kosan Fruit Farm has been expanded as a large-scale fruit farm with the introduction of scientific, intensive and modernized methods into fruit production.

At present, the farms have boosted production by applying the densely planting method of dwarf fruit trees following the world-wide trend of fruit farming development and growing several kinds of fruit trees including high-grade apple, pear and peach as befits the specific conditions of our country.

They grow apple trees of Korean original varieties such as Hwangju, Pukchong and Unryul together with dwarf apple trees of more than a hundred of varieties including Granny Smith, Fuji and Golden Delicious,and meet their own demand for young saplings by growing them on their own.

However, there have frequently occurred abnormal weather phenomena due to El Nino in recent years, causing negative effects on agriculture and fruit farming in our country and its surrounding countries.

As far as fruit farming is so greatly influenced by the nature and terrain and weather conditions as agriculture, Korea National Insurance Corporation (KNIC) has intention of newly underwriting insurance contracts with fruit farms in our country so as to put production on a normal basis under the adverse weather conditions recently occurred.

The subject matter insured under Fruit Crop Insurance shall be fruit and fruit trees cultivated by fruit farms in DPRK, and the covered risks are as follows;

– Yield Loss Coverage

Drought, freezing, landslide, fire,

– Fruit Tree Loss Coverage

Hail, drought, excessive moisture, extreme heat, fire,

– Quality Loss Coverage

Hail, torrential rainfall and windstorm.

In 2013, KNIC conducted a risk survey on some fruit farms in our country in cooperation with international loss adjusters, and since then KNIC has underwritten insurance contracts with those farms.

KNIC, on the basis of practical experience gained at that pilot stage, shall cover against the risks mentioned above modernized and large-scale fruit farms including Taedonggang Combined Fruit Farm and Kosan Fruit Farm within a few years to come.

Although KNIC has a dubious history, today the group still posts regular financial information which (if accurate) would make it one of the most financially transparent organizations in the DPRK (Congrats to them for at least trying). See tables here, here, and here.

Previous posts on the Korean National Insurance Corporation here.

Once they figure out crop insurance, the next step should be a commodity futures market!

Read the full UPI story here:
North Korea to provide insurance for drought, lost phones
UPI
Elizabeth Shim
2015-8-12

Posted in Agriculture, Cell phones, Communications, Finance, Insurance, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), Korea National Insurance Corporation | Comments Closed

China Railway Investment Group

Tuesday, August 11th, 2015

According to NK News:

A Chinese-state affiliated and Singaporean investment group, the latter of which is allegedly directly connected to the DPRK, is calling for large-scale investment in 12 projects spanning nearly every major sector in North Korea, from transport to mining to internet and cable television development.

The ambitious plans, outlined in an August 2 press release from China Railway Investments Group, welcome foreign participation in 12 “world class opportunities” in North Korea.

“The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) through its window company Daegian Pte Limited of Singapore in cooperation with China Railway Investments Group Ltd (CRIG) has established a joint venture investment company in Hong Kong,” the press release says.

The joint venture, called Heuimang Investments Group Limited, will be capable of providing a “direct and exclusive conduit to the highest levels of decision making in the government of the DPRK,” the release continues. “Only the most significant of opportunities will be available through this channel which can only be accessed through Heuimang/Han Wang.”

Here is a PDF of the press release posted to the China Railway Investment Group Web Page.

Here is the full text:

韩旺投资集团有限公司
Heuimang Investments Group Ltd (In Chinese pinyin Han Wang Touzi Jituan Youxian Gongsi)
公告 Announcement:
发布时间：2015-8-2

朝鲜民主人民共和国（朝鲜）致力于大力推进其经济发展，并欢迎外国投资参与该国的世界级的机会, 促进经济发展.
The DPRK is committed to progressing its economic development, and welcomes the participation of foreign companies in investing in world class opportunities in the country.

朝鲜欢迎中国的公司投资参与. 朝鲜通过它在新加坡注册的窗口公司Daegian 私人有限公司, 与中铁多经投资集团有限公司合作在香港建立了融投资平台—招商公司.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) through its window company Daegian Pte Limited of Singapore in cooperation with China Railway Investments Group Ltd (CRIG) has established a joint venture investment company in Hong Kong.

朝鲜政府已正式批准Daegian 与中铁多经投资集团有限公司(CRIG)合作成立旺投资集团有限公司.
The DPRK Government has formally approved the joint venture between Daegian and CRIG and their joint venture company called Heuimang (or Han Wang in Pinyin Chinese) Investments Group Limited.

Daegian和韩旺是朝鲜”走出去“、”引进来“的直接和专属通道，是朝鲜政府最高等决策层的直属机构. 只有最显著的机遇将可通过这一渠道，而且只能通过韩旺办理.
Daegian provides a discrete, direct and exclusive conduit to the highest levels of decision making in the government of the DPRK. Only the most significant of opportunities will be available through this channel which can only be accessed through Heuimang/Han Wang.

朝鲜决定与中方共同搭建经贸等合作更方便更快捷的工作平台，利用香港的优势宣传推广、项目招商、商务服务，支援朝鲜建设。韩旺将在中朝两国间发挥经贸合作的强大和充满活力的桥梁作用.
Heuimang/Han Wang will concentrate on creating a strong and robust platform for economic and trade co-operation between the countries. It will also take advantage of the flexibility afforded to a commercial entity registered in Hong Kong.

各方股东及合作公司将依照国际法和国际惯例运作，在透明的基础上配套韩旺发展.
All parties to this joint venture are committed to supporting Heuimang/Han Wang in operating on a transparent basis within international laws and practices.

其主要目标是优势互补、资源共享、利益均沾、合作共赢、商业运作.
The primary objective is commercial engagement through mutual cooperation for shared benefit.

里程碑:
Milestones:

2015年1月29日: 中铁和Daegian 签订了框架合作协议, 其中确定了互惠和显著利于中国和朝鲜，尤其是基础设施发展的若干项目. 通过韩旺, 中铁致力于引领中国企业组成的联合体参加朝鲜民主人民共和国的经济和基础设施发展.
January 29, 2015: CRIG and Daegian executed a framework cooperation agreement which identified certain projects of mutual and significant benefit to China and the DPRK, particularly infrastructure development. CRIG is committed to lead through Heuimang/Han Wang a consortium of investors from China to participate in the economic and infrastructure development of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

2015年3月20日：中铁和Daegian签署公约设立融投资控股公司，以协调和管理投资朝鲜.
March 20, 2015: CRIG and Daegian signed a convention to establish an investment holdings company to coordinate and manage investment in the DPRK.

2015年4月8日: 朝鲜政府的执行委员会正式批准为创建韩旺作为的中铁和Daegian 之间的合作平台公司.
April 8, 2015: The Executive Committee of the DPRK Government granted formal approval for the creation of Heuimang/Han Wang as the joint venture company between CRIG and Daegian.

这是中国- 朝鲜最高领导人讨论2010年5月的巅峰之作, 于经贸合作，成立一个指导委员会，共同开发和管理提名的项目, 包括特别经济贸易区.
These represent the culmination of China-DPRK economic and trade cooperation discussions dating back to May 2010, when the top leaders of both countries established a steering committee to jointly develop and manage nominated projects,including special economic trade zones.

基本的经济发展计划是底层要求支持能力建设，机构规划和物流相关立法的起草工作。此外，为提高海关程序，通信和赞助农业和其他指定项目在朝鲜.
Fundamental to the programme is the underlying requirement to support capacity building, institutional planning and logistics and the drafting of relevant legislation. Also, to improve customs procedures, communications and sponsor agriculture and other specified projects in the DPRK.

中国和朝鲜都致力于取得进展的合作和友谊通过鼓励基于一个企业的市场经济的互利两国人民.
China and the DPRK are committed to progressing their cooperation and friendship by encouraging an enterprise based market economy for the mutual benefit their two peoples.

韩旺利用中国政府鼓励中国企业“走出去”、以及建立境外经济贸易合作区的各种优惠政策，支持朝鲜建设，开发前述项目。
In supporting the DPRK in the development of the nominated projects (see below), China Railway will be taking advantage of the preferential policies of the Chinese Government’s ‘Go Global’ strategy and its model of ‘co-operation between nations’ to create Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones.

提名项目:
Nominated Projects:

下面的项目已被选定为首批发展:
The following have been selected for initial development:
1. 罗先经济贸易区等经济贸易区
Rason Economic Trade Zone and other Special Economic Trade Zones
2. 罗津港, 运输和物流
Rajin Port, Transport and Logistics
3. 东海岸高铁和互连服务
East Coast High-speed Rail and interconnecting services
4. 发电厂和服务
Power Generation
5. 国家石油和天然气战略计划，包括
National Oil and Gas Strategy, including
a. 现有的两个炼油厂和技术升级翻新
Refurbishment of the two existing refineries and technological upgrade
b. 更多的处理能力，存储和仓储设施建设，以满足当地和出口需求
Construction of more processing capacity and storage and warehousing facilities to meet local and export demand
c. 贸易销售和市场营销
Trade sales and marketing
d. 勘探和开采当地资源
Exploration and exploitation of local reserves
6. 黄金开采和加工;以及建立金银行
Gold mining and processing; and establishment of a gold bank
7. 稀土的开采和加工
Rare earth elements mining and processing
8. 金属和矿物开采和加工，包括:
Metals and minerals mining and processing including:
a. 铁钢 Iron and steel
b. 锌Zinc
c. 钨Tungsten
d. 锡Tin
e. 菱镁矿 Magnesite
f. 石墨 Graphite
g. 煤Coal
9. 电信和有线电视
Telecommunications & cable television
10. 互联网服务, 国家经济信息电子中心及电子支付平台
Internet services, a national information centre and electronic payment platforms
11. 金融服务，包括一个完整的商业全服务银行和保险
Financial Services including a full commercial full services bank and insurance
12. 农业包括菌草种植, 牛羊养殖和捕鱼,
Agriculture including bacteria grass, sheep and cattle breeding and fishing
和等项目，招商引资开发.

附加信息:
Additional Information:
罗先经济贸易区和罗津港: 由罗先经济合作局管理，位于朝鲜北东部，毗邻中国吉林省延边地区. 罗先的主要商业机会是罗津港，该港作为主要的物流和交通枢纽为东北亚的潜力. 中国、俄罗斯、蒙古承认其优点，罗津港可提供最北端的全年温水冷冻自由港. 俄罗斯和蒙古已经从罗津港运送大宗商品，通过铁路连结由俄罗斯建造的港区.
The Rason Economic Trade Zone and Rajin Port: is managed by the Rason Economic Cooperation Bureau, located in the North-East of DPRK, adjacent to the Yanbian area, Jilin province, China. The major commercial opportunity in Rason is the potential that Rajin port offers as a major logistics and transport hub for north-east Asia. China, Russia and Mongolia acknowledge the advantages that the northern most all-year round port can provide. Russia and Mongolia are already shipping bulk commodities from Rajin through a railway link built by Russia.

拟议的铁路连接新丝路网络，将为中国东部、俄罗斯、韩国、日本, 进入中亚欧洲及其他新兴经济体. 一个便捷的陆路货物通道，这将减少旅行时间只需15天，而不是原来45天的海上运输，太有吸引力了, 区域商家不能忽视.
A proposed rail connection to the New Silk Road network will provide Eastern China, Russia, South Korea and Japan access to the emerging economies of Central Asia and Europe beyond. A land route for the transport of goods that will reduce travel time to just 15 days as opposed to 45 days by sea will be too attractive for regional manufacturers to ignore.

罗先的潜力作为一个主要的工业和商业中心，是由计划的石油和天然气管道从西伯利亚到韩国釜山而增强. 坐落在通往发展最快、最具活力的世界经济区域上，它是一个可预见的展示，可以肯定的未来，罗先会成为最重要的区域之一。
Rason’s potential as a major industrial and commercial centre is further enhanced by the planned oil and gas pipeline from Siberia down to Pusan in South Korea. Situated as it is at the gateway to the fastest growing and most dynamic economic region in the world, it is a virtual certainty that Rason will become one of the most important cities in the region.

有许多小到中型中外合资企业已经建立在罗先. 这是肯定的, 由于贸易的增加, 这将很快被更大的企业来加盟。
There are many small to medium sized foreign joint ventures already established in Rason, which will soon be joined by larger enterprises that will inevitably follow as trade increases.

中国企业有数十家与朝鲜公司在进行经济和贸易活动，在建材、食品加工、机械、金融、投资、物流等领域谈判合作。交通运输集团，中国铁建集团，中国招商局集团，亚洲集团等大型企业纷纷表示了在罗先经贸等各领域的兴趣.
Dozens of Chinese enterprises are in negotiations with North Korean companies for economic and trade activities in building materials, food processing, machinery, finance, investment, logistics and other fields. Transportation Group, China Railway Construction Group, China Merchants Group, the Asian Group and other large enterprises have expressed interest in the Rason economic and trade areas.

中国的北大荒集团在朝鲜建立了一个高效的农业科技示范园区500公顷的水稻种植实验.
The Beidahuang Group of China set up a highly efficient agricultural demonstration zone, 500 hectares of rice growing experiments.

该商业机会将只能通过韩旺可用.
The commercial opportunities will only be available through Heuimang.

朝鲜国家石油和天然气战略: 是赖以投资者可以利用朝鲜的优越位置，并推出营销活动成为东北亚地区的重要平台。朝鲜有两个炼油厂，其中只有一个目前正在运作。
DPRK’s National Oil and Gas Strategy: is the platform upon which investors could take advantage of the DPRK’s location and launch a marketing campaign into north-east Asia. The DPRK has two refineries only one of which is currently operational.

在新义州的蓬华炼油厂每年生产的柴油和汽油约150万吨, 这是满足本地区的需求远不够的. 该炼油厂坐落在一个很好的位置，跨过鸭绿江丹东，那里有一个油码头和管道组成的国际网络的支线
The Bungwha [Ponghwa] Refinery in Sinuiju [Note: it is in Phihyon, not Sinuiju] produces about 1.5 million tonnes of diesel and gasoline a year which is well below local demand. It is well situated across the Yalu River from Dandong where there is an oil terminal and a spur line of an international network of pipelines.

韩旺拥有的授权权利，新指定的特殊经济贸易区，位于在鸭绿江河口的新都岛。这里是理想的建立一个油库和新的处理设施之地.
Heuimang holds rights to a newly designated special economic trade zone which is Sindo Island in the Yalu estuary. The site is ideal to create a tank farm and new processing facility.

罗先的胜利炼油厂在东北部，已有20多年经营，现停止，由于缺乏原料和适当保养及维修。它最初被设计为每年生产各种石油化工产品2.0万吨。罗津和罗先潜力将见证燃料和某些石化产品必须满足该地区日益增长的需求.
The Seungri Refinery in Rason in the north-east, has been silent for 20 years for a lack of feedstock and proper maintenance and repairs. It was designed to produce 2.0 million tonnes a year of a variety of petrochemical products. The potential that is Rajin/Rason will see a growing demand for fuel and certain petrochemical products in the region which must be met.

金属和矿物: 矿产开采和加工是朝鲜经济的支柱. 通过韩旺的国家协议的过程中，任期安全是有保证的，因为它的设计满足国际融资需求。有铁矿石，煤，金，菱镁矿，石墨，稀土元素和许多世界级的沉积物。
Metals and Minerals: mining and processing is the backbone of the DPRK economy. There are world class deposits of iron ore, coal, gold, magnesite, graphite, rare earth elements and many more. Through Heuimang’s state agreement process security of tenure is assured as it is designed to satisfy international financing requirements.

详细信息，请联系:
For more information, please contact:

(1) 与中铁投资集团有限公司, 主席, 王先生
Mr. Wang Jing, Chairman of China Railway Investments Group Ltd
电子邮件Email: [email protected]

(2) Daegian 私人有限公司, 主席, Rudi Sirr先生
Rudi Sirr, Executive Chairman of Daegian Pte Ltd
电子邮件Email: [email protected]

(3) 韩旺投资集团有限公司, 首席执行官, 沈思翠小姐
Jyn Sim Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Heuimang Investments Group Limited
电子邮件Email: [email protected]

Here is additional reporting in NK News and by Marcus Noland.

Posted in China, Foreign direct investment, Heuimang Investments Group Limited, Hwanggumphyong and Wihwado Economic Zones (Sinuiju), Sindo Island Economic development Zone, Special Economic Zones | Comments Closed

The drought that didn’t matter, North Korea says – thanks to agricultural reform?

Monday, August 10th, 2015

By Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein

During the past few months, the World Food Program (WFP) has made reoccurring pleas for increased food assistance to North Korea to alleviate the food shortages expected from a severe summer drought. The North Korean government made similar statements and claimed that the drought was the worst one to occur in 100 years. Aid to the country was subsequently increased from the originally planned level, due to the drought. But now, one North Korean official is saying that food production ended up increasing, after all, thanks to agricultural reforms.

A recent brief by the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University (IFES) cites a July issue of Tongil Sinbo, a North Korean state-run weekly newspaper. There, Chi Myong Su, director of the Agricultural Research Institute of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the country, says that

“the effectiveness of field management system (pojon) from cooperative farm production unit system (bunjo) is noticeable and succeeded in increasing grain production despite the adverse weather conditions.”

The article cited by IFES highlights the smaller work-team structure as key to the success of the reforms. Also, it almost outright states that greater economic incentives were the main factor (although they call it “enthusiasm” and “patriotism”):

“Despite the adverse weather conditions last year, the high grain yield was possible due to implementation of scientific farming methods and field management system to increase enthusiasm of farmers,” and “based on this experience, many cooperative farms across the country will expand subworkteam management system to field management system.”

This is interesting for several reasons.

First, the agricultural reforms seem increasingly pronounced. Though other reforms were reportedly backtracked earlier this year, the government seems eager to claim success for the road travelled in agriculture.

I have written elsewhere that the data doesn’t necessarily support a claim that reforms are working. There is still reason to be skeptical – after all, a North Korean government official claiming that his government’s policies are working is not surprising – but even the claim itself is interesting.

Second, the statement raises questions about monitoring and data gathering capacities, both of the regime and relief organizations in Pyongyang. Again, just a few months ago, alarm bells were ringing about a potential food shortage, and now, a regime official claims that food production has increased. What was the basis of the WFP and regime claims that a food shortage was imminent a few months ago, and what has changed since those claims were made?

Another recent IFES brief also deals with North Korean press reports about the agricultural reforms. It quotes a Rodong Sinmun article from earlier in the summer that brings up some adjustment problems that farmers have had, such as learning how to properly use fertilizers. The most interesting part in my opinion is the following:

The newspaper stressed that “when all farmers claim ownership of their field and subworkteam, one can create innovation in the farming operations.”

Thus, it seems like Pyongyang wants to encourage experimentation and diversity in production methods. This would be a potentially important step towards more efficient agriculture. Perhaps it is part of a pattern. Provinces have reportedly gotten significant leeway in setting up their respective special economic development zones, which could also be a way to encourage experimentation in policies and management methods.

According to the Tongil Sinbo article, reforms are set to expand further in the country given the alleged success. Perhaps it won’t be too long before we can learn more about them through assessments by multilateral organizations like WFP.

Tags:agricultural reform, agriculture, drought, Economics, foreign aid
Posted in 2015 aid from South Korea, 2015 Food Shortage, 6.28 Policy on Agriculture (June 28), Agriculture, Agriculture statistics, Economic Development Zones (2013), Economic reform, Food, Foreign aid statistics, International Aid, North Korea Agricultural Research Institute, Special Economic Zones, Statistics, UN, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, UN World Food Program | 1 Comment »

Friday fun: New stamps and wild speculation…

Friday, August 7th, 2015

Kim Jong-un has committed significant construction resources to improving the lives of children (particularly orphans) in the DPRK. Now you can share Kim Jong-un’s love of the children (sarcasm) with the people you know by collecting and sending stamps of the Songdowon International Children’s Camp and the new Pyongyang Baby Home and Orphanage:

Although the stamps are meant for foreign collectors, they are denominated as KPW 30. If the cost of a first class letter in the DPRK is 30 won, that translates into appx $.30 at the official rate and $.00375 at the black market rate (nearly 1/3 of a US penny).

But the Pyongyang Baby Home stamp booklet shows four stamps on a post card, so maybe the official price of sending a postcard is KPW120, or $1.20 at the official rate and $.015 at the black market rate. That seems a bit more reasonable, but it is still probably likely that, as in the USA, mail delivery is a drain on the government’s budget (subsidized activity). I wonder how hard it is to raise postal rates in the DPRK?

Luckily the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication (체신성) does not have to rely on the cabinet for its complete budget. There is always the international stamp-collecting market…and a small venture known as KoryoLink.

I also doubt that any of the money generated from the sale of these stamps actually goes to supporting the budgets of the Pyongyang Baby Home and Orphanage and Songdowon International Children’s Camp, but you never know.

Posted in Advertising, International trade, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications | Comments Closed

DPRK emphasizes development of marine resources

Thursday, July 30th, 2015

According to KCNA:

Development of Marine Resources Spurred in DPRK

The development of marine resources has been pushed forward in a far-sighted way in the DPRK according to a new national strategy for developing marine resources.

The Ministry of Land and Maritime Transport, the Ministry of Fisheries and the State Hydro-meteorological Administration are paying deep attention to marine survey and observation and research into marine resources, while laying sound material and technical bases for them.

Researchers of Kim Il Sung University have made successes in the research into marine energy resources, marine information system and marine environmental protection. They are also pushing ahead with the research into searching for fishing ground on the East and West seas of Korea and the ocean and into aquaculture and marine mineral resources.

The establishment of a latest marine technology park progresses apace.

Kwak Il Hwan, secretary of the DPRK society for marine studies, told KCNA:

It is one of important national policies to protect and develop marine resources.

Students and citizens are encouraged to get more knowledge about the sea through different occasions like the Day of Sea (July 12) and months for maritime physical culture (July and August).

Big efforts have been paid to putting the research into marine resources on a higher scientific basis.

And here is coverage of the report by the Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES):

Marine Development Projects Underway in North Korea
2015-7-30

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on July 24, 2015 that marine resource development projects, such as the establishment of an Advanced Marine Technology Development Zone, are currently being pursued in North Korea.

While KCNA reports that the establishment of the Advanced Marine Technology Development Zone is moving along, Choson Marine Association head clerk Kwak Il Hwan adds, “Protecting and increasing marine resources while actively developing and using them is becoming one of the state’s main policies.”

The news agency also revealed, “As a marine space resource, ports will be constructed, navigation channels will be developed, and there were will be tidelands and marine tourist spots; on the west coast it will become a tideland capable of development as well as a wealth of information.” This statement indicates that the Advanced Marine Technology Development Zone will be designated on the west coast.

“A training system for our country’s experts and engineers in the marine sector is in place, and a technological foundation for the development and use of marine resources, including research bases in each field all over the country, has been secured,” KCNA reported.

Along with this, the news agency revealed that in the Ministry of Land and Marine Transport, the Ministry of Fisheries, and the meteorological observatory, they are proceeding with projects like maritime studies, marine observations and research projects, and maintenance reinforcement work through material and technical means.

In addition, Kim Il Sung University is pushing for the effective development and use of marine resources, invigorating the exploration of fisheries, sea farming, a marine ecology and environmental information management system, the exploration of marine mineral resources, and collection research projects on the East and West coast and in ocean waters.

KCNA also revealed that research in areas like marine energy resource development, marine environment protection technology, and a marine information system are achieving results.

Posted in Agriculture, Ministry of Land and Marine Transport | Comments Closed

Choco Pies in North Korea (UPDATED)

Tuesday, July 14th, 2015

Pictured above (Source here): A Choco Pie wrapper in Pyongyang (October 2014)

UPDATE 6 (2015-7-14): The Daily NK reports that the DPRK’s ‘Choco Pie’ knock-off falls far short:

Daily NK has obtained a North Korean snack rolled out to squash demand for a popular South Korean treat that had first become a sensation among factory workers in the inter-Korean industrial complex and spread across the country. Known as ‘Chocolate Danseolgi,’ the snack displays a striking resemblance with the much-loved South Korean ‘Choco Pie’.

The new treat is said to have been produced to cut off fantasies about the capitalist world its workers may harbor.

Starting last month, North Korea has been providing its Kaesong factory workers with ‘Danseolgi’, according to a source who has ties with the North and passed on the new snack to Daily NK on the condition of anonymity. This comes after Pyongyang banned supplies of the famed ‘Choco Pie’ within the industrial complex last year, as they were being sold by the workers on the black market for good returns and gaining greater popularity across the country.

The South Korean ‘Choco Pie’ snack was first introduced to Kaesong workers in 2006. Due to its soaring popularity, many had come to develop a sense of curiosity or fantasies about the South, the source said. Seeing the chocolate cake snack with marshmallow filling win over so much love, Pyongyang set out to create an alternative in the hopes of choking off demand.

Last year, after banning ‘Choco Pie’ supplies, the North tried to force South Korean firms to provide its factory workers with a home-grown chocolate double-layered cake snack, and this year in March, it even rolled out a chocolate coated rice cake treat also similar to an existing South Korean product.

Despite these efforts, local goods have failed to take off, as Kaesong workers are already acquainted with tastes from South Korea and are only eating the ‘Danseolgi’ as they have no other choice, according to the source.

The treat is one of the “latest products” put out for Kaesong workers. “It was smuggled out of the country by way of a North Korean trader in the Rason Economic Special Zone who works with Chinese traders,” she explained.

“Currently in the North, the ‘Chocolate Danseolgi’ is being distributed to workers as supplies, and they’re not sold on North Korea’s regular markets,” she asserted. Every last ingredient used to make the snack, from the butter to the chocolate, is imported from China.

Predictably, Kaesong workers invariably far prefer the taste of the original chocolate snack from South Korea, the source said, adding, “North Korea will never be able to produce the South’s Choco Pie.”

One of Daily NK’s reporters who tried out the North Korean ‘Danseolgi’ described the snack as “decidedly lacking in chocolate flavor ” and “being overwhelmingly pungent of butter.” The wrapper claims to include marshmallow in the product, but our taste tester reported any semblance of its texture to be nonexistent and noted that the cake itself is incredibly prone to crumbling.

UPDATE 5 (2015-6-9): DPRK asks that all South Korean food served in the KIC be replaced by North Korean substitutes. According to Voice of America:

North Korea has asked South Korean businesses at the Kaesong industrial complex to replace all foodstuffs given to its workers at the inter-Korean park with North Korea-made products.

A representative of the South Korean businesses, who visited the complex Tuesday, told VOA’s Korean Service that South Korean companies began distributing North Korean substitutes for popular South Korean food supplies to the North Korean workers as early as March. Almost all South Korea-made food products have now been replaced with North Korean products.

Choco Pie, a popular South Korean snack cake, also has been replaced with a similar North Korea-made sweet. The chocolate covered cake with marshmallow filling has become one of the most popular items in the North’s black markets. Other North Korea-made foodstuffs given to the workers include instant noodles with chicken broth and condiments.

In an attempt to keep South Korean foodstuffs from the complex, the North is imposing an additional business tax on the companies for bringing in South Korea-made products. About 50 South Korean businesses supplying food for the complex face bankruptcy, according to representatives of the South Korean businesses.

Some business owners have expressed concern about the quality of North Korean foodstuffs. One representative said some workers are suffering from food poisoning after the switch.

A South Korean official who asked to remain anonymous told VOA the North Korean move is aimed at blocking the flow of South Korean products into the North and earning foreign currency.

South Korean companies have been providing about $60 per month in snacks to each North Korean worker. With approximately 53,000 workers at the complex, Pyongyang can now garner up to $3 million every month from the snack sales.

UPDATE 4 (2014-9-24): According to the Daily NK, workers in the KIC are receiving a different dessert than the Choco Pie now. Also, the Kumunsan Company is producing substitute goods, and they are winning over consumers:

[…] the once popular South Korean snack Choco Pie is seeing a decline in its asking price. In June, Pyongyang demanded that South Korean companies at the industrial complex stop distributing Choco Pies to workers there, as officials had found it problematic that North Korean workers were saving the snacks and selling them in the markets. More recently, the northern workers have been receiving Chaltteok Pie (찰떡) [a chocolate covered rice cake from the South], individually packaged coffee, yulmucha (율무차)[grainy tea made with Job’s Tears], and candy bars.

“In Pyongyang, at the ‘Geumeunsan Trade Company,’ (금운산, Kumunsan Trade Corporation) they have been baking bread for about a year,” the source said, adding, “Of all the different kinds of bread, the most popular are the ones with butter inside, and they are less than 1000 KPW– much cheaper than Choco Pie.”

The trade company is an affiliate of the Military Mobilization Department [Military Manpower Administration in South Korea], which deals with the procurement of military supplies among its many functions. They either directly import the goods or obtain them from military factories in various locations across the country, and oversee the manufacturing of military equipment and machinery.

Geumeunsan Trade Company maintains branches in multiple areas, including Rasun and Cheongjin, and the office in Pyongyang imports ingredients such as flour, sugar, and cooking oil directly from China. According to the source, the raw material prices are cheaper than in the North’s markets, and the products taste good, allowing it to monopolize the confectionery market there.

“The company has brought in foreign equipment and technology, putting it ahead of the South’s Choco Pie in price and taste,” he said, concluding, “This is why with the introduction of these different breads in Pyongyang, the price of Choco Pie [from the South] has dropped to 500 KPW from 1,200 KPW.”

North Korean Economy Watch

Archive for the ‘DPRK organizations’ Category

Sangyon e-commerce system introduced (and Jonsong Card)

Why won’t North Korean trees grow like Kim Jong-un told them to?

North Korean Broadcast Criticizes Forest Restoration Results

How the North Korean media describes a market

DPRK insurance market updates

China Railway Investment Group

The drought that didn’t matter, North Korea says – thanks to agricultural reform?

Friday fun: New stamps and wild speculation…

DPRK emphasizes development of marine resources

Choco Pies in North Korea (UPDATED)

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