Plastic surgery required to work in prestigious DPRK restaurants

May 20th, 2011

According to the Daily NK:

It has been belatedly revealed that since the start of the 2000s, young women working in North Korean restaurants both in Pyongyang and abroad have been required to have double eyelid surgery.

A source with a long history of visits to Pyongyang explained to The Daily NK yesterday, “When I was in Pyongyang last year, I heard from someone related to the North that since the start of the 2000s all waitresses had double eyelid surgery on Kim Jong Il’s instructions,” and added, “It seems that Kim Jong Il places great importance on the appearance of workers in restaurants earning foreign currency.”

According to the source, the target of Kim Jong Il’s requirements includes workers at restaurants within Pyongyang fraternized by foreigners, including Korean and international restaurants in the Yanggakdo and Koryo Hotels, coffee shops and other shops.

But it also includes those sent to work in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Yanji), Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), the Middle East (Dubai), Nepal, the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Kaesong.

The reason why Kim Jong Il made the decision is supposedly connected with restaurant sales; the waitresses at such establishments are not merely waitresses, for they must also be talented singers and dancers, too.

According to the source, “They are mostly young university students born in Pyongyang, and I heard they get the surgery in hospital in Pyongyang for $17.”

North Korea pushed into the foreign restaurant market at first in the 1990s in an attempt to boost hard currency earnings. Now, with foreign currency earning businesses under both Party and military organs operating in the market, there are more than 100 North Korean restaurants worldwide.

According to the scale of the restaurant and number of waitresses, each is expected to earn a certain amount of foreign currency per year, and while getting a job in one of the restaurants naturally relies heavily on family and educational background, the waitresses are still watched more carefully by the authorities than ordinary North Korean citizens.

A former resident of Pyongyang told me that elite North Korean women were all getting this procedure done back in the 1980s.  It was very cheap and common.

Read the full story here:
Eyelid Surgery a Restaurant Must
Daily NK:
Kim Yong Hun
2011-5-20

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Posted in Civil society, Health care, Labor conditions/wages, Plastic Surgery, Restaurants | 4 Comments »

Orascom releases 2011 Q1 shareholder report

May 20th, 2011

You can see the whole report here (PDF).

According to Martyn Williams (PC World):

The number of 3G cellular subscriptions in North Korea passed half a million during the first quarter, the country’s only 3G cellular operator said this week.

The Koryolink network had 535,133 subscriptions at the end of March, an increase of just over 100,000 on the end of December 2010, said Orascom Telecom. Egypt’s Orascom owns a majority stake in Koryolink, which is operated as a joint venture with the state-run Korea Posts and Telecommunications Co.

Subscriber growth has been strong ever since the network was launched in late 2008, but the most recent quarter delivered the first signs that Koryolink is having to work harder for new subscribers.

The January to March period was the first time since the third quarter of 2009 that the number of new subscribers during the quarter failed to be more than the previous quarter. In the October to December quarter, the company added just over 130,000 new customers.

Revenue for the quarter was a record US$25.7 million, a jump of 185 percent on the same period of 2010. Orascom doesn’t disclose net profit figures for the company.

The company is keen to launch new value-added services to raise average revenue per user (ARPU) and during the quarter it began offering MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service). Customers gave the service a positive response, Orascom said.

But despite the efforts, ARPU fell to its lowest level since service began in 2009. At just US$12.7 per month, it was down 40 percent on the same period last year.

Orascom also launched pre-paid cards denominated in euros to boost foreign exchange earnings from North Korea. The scratch cards offer free voice and value-added service use during off-peak hours.

The company’s network now covers 92 percent of the population.

North Korea is one of the world’s most heavily controlled countries and communication is severely restricted. Most cell phones don’t have the ability to make or receive international calls.

The Daily NK offers some additional information:

Cell phone customer numbers are rising while the price of the handsets is falling, according to sources from inside North Korea.

One such source from Pyongyang reported on the 18th, “The phone bill is no different from in the past, only the price of the cell phone itself is falling.”

According to sources, in Pyongyang a single-piece handset has gone from $280 to $250, and a clamshell design from $400 to $380 (at the exchange rate in South Pyongan Province, one dollar is presently worth 2,500 North Korean won, while a kilo of rice continues to drift in the 2,000 won range).

The source explained, “Cell phone users keep increasing. In Pyongyang, approximately 60% of people between their 20s and 50s use cell phones. Especially for the younger generation in their 20s and 30s, a cell phone is seen as a necessary item,” he said.

A source from Shinuiju also commented, “Around three out of ten young people have got a cell phone, and prices have been cut a bit.”

A source from South Pyongan Province agreed, too, saying, “Cell phone bills and prices have dropped compared with in the beginning. A basic cell phone (single-piece) is $225 and an expensive one is $300. You pay 30,000 won in our money, and then you can use it for 200 minutes.”

The source went on, “But when you buy a $10 card, you can use it for 600 minutes. This is a state policy to earn dollars.”

He explained that according to the jangmadang exchange rate, $10 is currently 25,000 won, meaning that payment for credit in dollars is of huge benefit in terms of value for money.

However, there is still an application fee of $800 and registration fee of $100, as before.

The source reported, “Cell phone traders purchase cell phones using their families’ and relatives’ names,” because only one handset per person is allowed. “Since there are many people who have obtained a cell phone in another’s name, their cell phones occasionally get confiscated when they go to the telephone office to pay the bill and get their ID checked.”

In a connected story, Radio Free Asia reported on the 19th that Koryo Link has added another 100,000 subscribers to its books since the end of last year, bringing the total number to 535,133 as of the end of March.

However, in contrast with Pyonyang and the interior areas of North Korea where usage is growing, the battle in the border region is still to restrict and control cell phone usage. Distinguishing a Chinese cell phone is not easy, so cracking down on the practice of using them is not easy, either, and therefore the method of applying for a cell phone has been made more difficult, among other measures.

According to one Yangkang Province source, “One person who took cell phones brought in by smugglers in March, remodeled and sold them was arrested by the People’s Safety Ministry, and in the light of that the process for applying for a cell phone here got stricter. The person who wishes to buy the phone must have the signature of a National Security agent now. In the beginning, there was no such rule.”

In North Korea, applications for cell phones are handled by sales offices; however, the procedure is more difficult now, and so some get the handset from a smuggler and only the number from the local office, in order to avoid the process. Of course, bribes are necessary to facilitate that, currently approximately $400-$450 in Yangkang Province.

According to sources, an official North Korean cell phone works on a different frequency to those from China in order to stop their being used to connect outside the country. However, if the frequency of a smuggled phone is changed to match North Korea’s, then the cell phone can be used.

And according to Mobile Business Briefing:

Orascom Telecom’s North Korean mobile arm, koryolink, surpassed the half a million subscriber mark in the first quarter, representing growth of 420 percent year-on-year. Orascom noted during its Q1 earnings yesterday that its North Korean subscriber base has reached 535,133, up from 125,661 a year earlier. While the numbers are still relatively small, Orascom’s North Korean venture – which was first launched in December 2008 – is being closely watched; koryolink is the only commercial operator in the notoriously secretive and totalitarian country and therefore has huge growth potential – as well as being a risky investment. Orascom said that current mobile penetration in North Korea is just 2 percent. Its revenue from koryolink rose 185 percent year-on-year to US$25.8 million in Q1, while earnings (EBITDA) hit US$22.6 million, giving it an impressive EBITDA margin of 87.6 percent.

koryolink’s network currently consists of 341 base stations covering the capital Pyongyang, 14 main cities as well as 72 smaller cities, Orascom said. The network also extends over 22 highways. As of the end of Q1 2011, koryolink covers 13.6 percent of the country’s territory and 92 percent of its population. In January 2011, koryolink launched MMS services for the first time, the latest addition to its VAS portfolio. The firm has also focused on maximising foreign currency revenue, launching in February a recharge card that can be bought in Euros.

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Posted in Cell phones, Communications, Economic reform, Foreign direct investment, Orascom Telecom Holding | 1 Comment »

Koryo Tours update

May 19th, 2011

2012 DPRK tour dates: Koryo has posted travel dates for 2012, including a tour for Kim Il-sung’s 100th birthday.  Check the dates and itineraries here.

2011 Ultimate Frisbee tourney: Pyongyang will be home to its first ever Ultimate Frisbee tourney this summer.  August 27th.  Sign up now.

Ultimate Frisbee in North Korea. The most interesting sports thing you’ve ever done. Unless you’re Usain Bolt, who isn’t responding to my friend request.

The cost will be 890 Euros. This includes flights from and back to Beijing, tourist stuff Saturday and Monday, pizza, all other food that isn’t pizza, hotel, fields, entertainment. Visa fee (not optiona, 50 Euro) and ticket to the mass games (optional, but would be weird not to go: 80, 100, 150 or 300 Euro options) will be extra. North Korean microbrewed beer will be extra, but cheap (and good).

The itinerary includes two full days and three nights of touring. The tournament is a one day hat. We leave Beijing early Saturday and return early Tuesday. Participants should be in Beijing by Friday afternoon in order to collect visas get final info at Koryo Tours.
All nationalities except South Korean can participate.

Write an email to [email protected] if interested in attending and want more info.

If you know you’re in, write [email protected] and ask for the necessary forms to get it going.

It ain’t cheap, but it will be amazing. We’re looking to get deposits by June 30th.

Tentative Itinerary for Ultimate Frisbee Tour
Thurs 25th Aug: Pickup in Beijing -Introduction to “Extreme Pollution Ultimate”, dinner at Dong Bei Ren Restaurant (Not included in tour fee)

Fri 26th Aug: Briefing/Collect Visas at Koryo Tours office in Beijing

Sat 27th Aug: N/A Arrival by Air Koryo flight from Beijing at 14:20, Fountain Park, Mansudae Grand Monument, Kim Il Sung Square, ARIRANG MASS GAMES

Sun 28th Aug: Taesongsan Park for Frisbee Tournament, picnic lunch Frisbee tournament, evening trip to Kaeson Youth funfair, dinner at Korean restaurant

Mon 29th Aug: Juche Tower, Mansudae Art Studio, Pyongyang Metro (extended ride on the subway), Arch of Triumph, USS Pueblo, Pizza Restaurant Lunch, FRISBEE CLINIC AT LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL. Paradise Micro-Brewery, Foreign Languages Bookshop, Farewell dinner at Duck BBQ restaurant, evening Karaoke option.

Tues 30th Aug: 9:00 Air Koryo Flight to Beijing. End of tour.

Previously, Koryo Tours hosted the first cricket match (2008) and first golf tournament (2005) in the DPRK.

Middlesbrough Women’s Football Team booklet: It has been posted to the Koryo Tours web page. You can download it here (PDF).  Learn more about this effort here and here.

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Posted in Koryo Tours, Tourism, United Kingdom | Comments Closed

Is a generation change coming to the Supreme People’s Assembly?

May 19th, 2011

The Choson Ilbo reports:

North Korea’s Workers Party has started a generational shakeup in the Supreme People’s Assembly by appointing large numbers of young delegates in their 20s and 30s. The rubber-stamp parliament consists of delegates with a five-year term from various organizations including the party and the military.

A North Korean source said the Workers Party recently ordered municipal, provincial, and county party committees to force elderly members to quit for health reasons and fill the vacancies with people under 40.

“The North Korean leadership is seeking to replace a larger number of elderly members with younger people next year,” which it has declared as the year when the country becomes a “powerful and prosperous” nation, the source said. The regime “also ordered officials to lower the educational level of the delegates, but raise the ratio of female delegates to more than 30 percent.”

The average age of the 687 SPA delegates is 57. Those with college or higher degrees account for 92.8 percent, and women for 19.3 percent, according to the source. The moves are believed to be part of the regime’s efforts to consolidate the succession of leader Kim Jong-il’s third son and heir Jong-un, who is in his late 20s.

Liberty Forward Party lawmaker Park Sun-young backed the story. “I was told by a North Korean source based in a Southeast Asian country that the regime has recently issued instructions for a generational change in the SPA,” she said. “The party is trying to strengthen Kim Jong-un’s control” at a time when the lower echelons of the party, which has a membership of 4.5 million nationwide, have become unreliable since a botched currency reform in late 2008.

“Once the SPA has more delegates in their 20s and 30s who are Kim Jong-un’s loyal cadres, the regime will probably get tough, including launching more provocations against the South,” Park added.

The 12th Supreme People’s Assembly just held their 4th session.

Read the full story here:
N.Korea Pushes Generational Change in Parliament
Choson Ilbo
2011-5-20

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Posted in Cabinet, Kim Jong Un, Supreme Peoples Assembly | Comments Closed

PUST enrollment reaches 250*

May 19th, 2011

Pictured above (Google Earth): Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) in  December 2009

Martyn Williams offers us an update on the University:

The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology enrolled an additional 100 students at the start of the current academic semester, according to a foundation that supports the school.

The first classes at PUST began in October 2010 with 160 students enrolled, said reports at the time. The latest intake will take the student body to 260 members, assuming none of the initial students has dropped out.

You can read Martyn’s full blog post here.

If you are interested in doing some volunteer work for PUST, here is their foundation’s web page. Here is the official PUST web page.

Previous PUST posts can be found here.

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Posted in Computing/IT, Education | Comments Closed

ROK court rules on DPRK defector confidentiality

May 19th, 2011

According to Yonhap:

A Seoul appeals court ruled Thursday the South Korean government should pay 120 million won (US$110,000) to a North Korean defector over an identity leak case that he claimed led to the disappearance of his 22 relatives in the North.

The Seoul High Court said the government claimed media reports on defection were intended to satisfy the people’s right to know, but the need to accept the defector’s request for confidentiality takes precedence over the people’s right to know or the freedom of press.

Lee Kwang-su, 42, sailed into South Korean waters along with his wife, two children and a friend aboard a small barge in 2006. He claimed he had initially planned to go to Japan and seek political asylum at the U.S. embassy there.

Lee currently lives in California after he won asylum in the United States in 2008.

He has said South Korean investigators released his identity as well as that of four others to media despite his request for confidentiality for fear of retaliation against their relatives in North Korea.

North Korean defectors in the South claim that North Korea harshly punishes relatives of defectors and sends them to prisons.

Lee believed his relatives were sent to a political prison camp, though it is nearly impossible to independently verify the claims due to lack of free access to the isolated country.

The ruling raised the amount of compensation to Lee, who was awarded 55 million won in a lower court in October. He had demanded 1.15 billion won when he filed a suit against the South Korean government in 2008.

Lee said he will consult with his lawyer before deciding whether or not appeal the ruling.

“I cannot expect justice will be served even if I appeal to the Supreme Court,” Lee said after the ruling, adding he plans to sue the South Korean government in a U.S. court. He did not give a specific time frame.

South Korean prosecutors were not immediately available for comment.

Read the full story here:
Appeals court orders S. Korean gov’t to pay W120 mln to defector
Yonhap
2011-5-19

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Posted in Emigration, South Korea | Comments Closed

Kaesong production sets monthly record

May 18th, 2011

Pictured above (Google Earth): Growth of the Kaesong Industrial Center (Apr. 2004, Jan. 2006, Sept. 2009)

According to Yonhap:

South Korean factories in an industrial complex in North Korea produced goods worth US$34.7 million in March, setting a monthly output record since the two Koreas launched the zone in 2004, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said Wednesday.

The complex, a key symbol of rapprochement between the two Koreas, combines the South’s technology and management expertise with the North’s cheap labor.

More than 46,000 North Koreans work for about 120 South Korean firms operating in the North Korean border city of Kaesong to produce clothes, utensils, watches and other low-tech goods.

The two divided Koreas managed to maintain the zone despite a chill in their relations over the North’s two deadly attacks on the South last year that killed 50 South Koreans.

A couple of days ago I posted a story about the growth in number of North Korean workers at the complex.

UPDATE (2011-5-27): The Wall Street Journal’s Korea Real-Time offers some 2010 joint-Korean trade and aid umbers:

For the full year, general trade between the two Koreas amounted to $118 million, down 54% from $256 million in 2009.

But the joint industrial complex at Kaesong, a city just inside North Korea on the west side of the inter-Korean border, continued to flourish.

The volume of trade at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, goods moving into the approximately 120 factories there and then being shipped back south after North Korean workers added value, rose 54% to $1.44 billion last year from $941 million in 2009.

As part of the penalties following the Cheonan incident, the South Korean government limited the number of South Koreans who could stay at the Kaesong complex. The result: one-day visits to the complex soared, lifting the total number of South Koreans who visited the North.

For all of 2010, 130,119 South Koreans went to the North while just 130 North Koreans visited the South. In 2009, 120,616 South Koreans went to the North and 246 North Koreans visited the South.

South Korea’s assistance to North Korea also dropped sharply last year, to 30.1 bililon won from 77.5 billion won a year earlier. The South’s direct government assistance was 8 billion won, down from 10.4 billion won in 2009.

Private assistance from South Korea also fell to 20 billion won in 2010, from 37.7 billion won in 2009.

Read the full story here:
Production at Koreas’ industrial complex sets monthly record
Yonhap
2011-5-18

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Posted in Economic reform, Foreign direct investment, Google Earth, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), Special Economic Zones (Established before 2013) | Comments Closed

Some current economic data points

May 17th, 2011

According to Daily NK:

Things are growing more difficult for many North Korean people as they pass through the spring lean season, according to a new interview with a citizen from the edge of Pyongyang, Kang Mi Soon. There has been little distribution this year, even in the capital, which has traditionally received preferential treatment, and while people are trading to try and improve matters, it’s not easy at the moment.

This is because, as a lingering after-effect of the currency redenomination, a lot of people have exhausted their reserves of cash, while prices have returned to levels commensurate with before the redenomination. In spite of relative commercial freedom in the jangmadang, the number of transactions has fallen and the class of small traders which lives day-to-day is struggling.

Kang, who hails from Gangdong County in Pyongyang, revealed this and more news from the city in an interview she gave to The Daily NK in Yanji, where she recently visited relatives,

The following is a transcript of the interview with Kang:

– What is the state of the distribution system?

In December last year and then January this year, there were eight days-worth of distribution. In February there were ten days, including the 16th (Kim Jong Il’s birthday), but in March there was no distribution. In April there were five days, including the Day of the Sun (Kim Il Sung’s birthday).

(One day of distribution ordinarily means 700g of rice or other grain for laborers, 900g for miners and workers in other strategic industries, 800g for members of state security, 400-500g for students (depending on grade) and 300g for housewives)

– Is the jangmadang operating well?

The jangmadang is working normally. However, the situation is that though the number of sellers is on the rise, people do not have money so products are not selling well.

– What things are selling the most?

Mostly, rice and corn are the mainstays of jangmadang sales. Since February of this year, there has been a drastic reduction in sales of other household items and industrial products. Though the supplies of rice and corn in the jangmadang are similar to last year, the number of buyers and the amounts being bought are both decreasing.

– What is the overall situation in terms of prices?

Overall, they have risen to a level similar to that of before the redenomination. In the case of Chinese products, prices have increased to more than before the redenomination. Socks made in China were 1,500won before, but now they are 2,000won.

– They say that the food situation during the spring lean season is hard. Can you tell us more?

Starting from last year, after the currency redenomination, the situation started getting worse, and this year it is really bad.

– Has anyone starved to death?

In Gangdong [Kangdong] County, since the beginning of February about twenty people, including two families which committed suicide, have died of hunger.

(Gangdong County had a population of 221,539 in 2008)

– What is the overall food supply situation?

60% of people in the county are living off three meals a day of corn porridge or corn flour noodles, 30% on corn rice and the remaining 10% are eating three meals of rice a day. In March and April of last year, the number of people eating three meals of rice was 30 or 40%, and less than 5% were living on corn porridge or noodles; the rest are corn rice.

– What about other regions?

With the exception of central Pyongyang and other big cities (Sinuiju, Pyongsung, Chongjin etc), it seems to me that other rural regions are in the same situation as Gangdong. The price of rice looks likely to stay the same or rise, and so, until around June 10th when the potatoes are gathered, the numbers of starving people is likely to rise.

Read the full story here:
Gangdong County Hit by Spring Shortages
Daily NK
Choi Cheong Ho
2011-5-17

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Posted in Agriculture, Economic reform, Food, General markets (FMR: Farmers Market), Price liberalization, Public Distribiution System (PDS) | Comments Closed

More virus attacks (UPDATED)…

May 17th, 2011

I have now been notified by four individuals about recent hacking attempts.  I have posted the emails these individuals received below.  There are four different messages.  I am happy to post these types of attacks, but if you receive one, please consult with an IT professional about obtaining the “email header”. This is what is most valuable to IT security professionals.  Please send me the “email header” to post (see below for an example).

Below are the four malicious emails of which I am aware:

Email 4: Targeted at one known individual

From: Suzan Park
Date: Fri, May 27, 2011 at 7:02 AM
Subject: interview questions
To:

Hi, this is Park of NCN News.
We are producing a documentary on “International Status of Northeast Asian Countries in Perspective of Soft Power”.
I was informed you are professional in this field.
It would be grateful if you could answer the interview questions about this documentary.

Documentary & Questions Link is here : Focusing on Current Situations of North Korea

Best regards!
Park

The phrase “Focusing on Current Situations of North Korea”  links to “ncnbroadcasting.reportinside.net/producer/2011FocusingOnDPRK.hta”.

The header for this email can be found below

Email 3: Targeted at one known individual

From: Pam Benson <[email protected]>

Date: Tue, May 17, 2011 at 8:08 AM

Subject: FW: Kim Il Sung:the Great Hero of Mankind(ask your comments)

To: [DELETED]

I am forwarding the feature column : “Kim Il Sung: the Great Hero of Mankind”.

This writing concerns his great achievements.

The column is very realistic and beautiful.

I guess everyone who reads this column is impressed with his history.

I wonder what you think about this writing.

Thanks.

Sincerely Yours.

Attached to this email is a MS Word document titled, “Great Leader Kim Il Sung.doc”.  Do not open this attachment.

Email 2: Targeted at two known individuals

From: David L <[email protected]>

To:

Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 00:58:07 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: final draft

It’s been a long time since I last corresponded with you.

How have you been? I hope everything is well with you, your family.

Finally, The final draft was complete yesterday.

It will be announced next Month after collecting more opinions from experts in the field.

The Current Situation and Future Prospects in Northeast Asia : JAPAN, NORTH KOREA, SOUTH KOREA, CHINA

I look forward to sharing my insights with you once I receive your assessment.

I hope to hear from you soon .

Sincerely Yours,

David in Japan

The title underlined above was actually a link to the following: http://reportinside.net/draft/fainaldraft_201105.htaXX ( I added the XX at the end to prevent anyone from accidentally linking to the server).

Email 1: Targeted at one known individual

From:

Date: 2011/4/13

Subject: contact list

To:

Prof.

attach contact list

교수님

학회 명단 첨부합니다.

The email contained an attached MS Word document which contained the virus.

Keep your eyes open folks.  This has happened before.

Here is the header information from Email #4:

Delivered-To: XXXXX
Received: by 10.229.245.145 with SMTP id lu17cs38890qcb;
Thu, 26 May 2011 23:02:14 -0700 (PDT)
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Return-Path: <[email protected]>
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Thu, 26 May 2011 23:02:13 -0700 (PDT)
Received-SPF: pass (google.com: best guess record for domain of [email protected] designates 98.138.91.132 as permitted sender) client-ip=98.138.91.132;
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: best guess record for domain of [email protected] designates 98.138.91.132 as permitted sender) [email protected]; dkim=pass (test mode) [email protected]
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X-YMail-OSG: lnJOtxwVM1lRvwYV6FMNXyRQpqXH7El4eV82aOjgSG5w3sb
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IL03HLjG7xI4ViVYuvivjNFohW8Ecc_bvnVFI1IpAHdstYZuh8671c324VGl
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Aj2H3BZQGhQh08HuCcXSB1E9GyQ_N_Nwy4qSF1mSPxQUtamiEXDWypdceD14
iOArQPgs2NsH2.EmvKzszMl96XzlH8Pul4K8H9D.B3OrgxtOT2GraQUykvxx
fve4Xk94YY68VUpRePvkCpXMr.P5P0f63K3yWG86FyFm6j4BFamNwQ71bAso
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Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 23:02:12 -0700 (PDT)
From: Suzan Park <[email protected]>
Reply-To: Suzan Park <[email protected]>
Subject: interview questions
To: XXX
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Hi, this is Park of NCN News.
We are producing a documentary on “International Status of Northeast Asian Countries in Perspective of Soft Power”.
I was informed you are professional in this field.
It would be grateful if you could answer the interview questions about this documentary.

Documentary & Questions Link is here :Focusing on Current Situations of North Korea

Best regards!
Park
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<html><body><div style=”color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt”><div>Hi, this is Park of NCN News.<BR>We are producing a documentary on “International Status of Northeast Asian Countries in Perspective of Soft Power”. <BR>I was informed you are professional in this field. <BR>It would be grateful if you could answer the interview questions about this documentary. <BR><BR>Documentary &amp; Questions Link is here :<A href=htXtp://ncnbroadcasting.reportinside.net/producer/2011FocusingOnDPRK.hta> Focusing on Current Situations of North Korea</A> <BR><BR>Best regards! <BR>Park <IMG src=”hXttp://ncnbroadcasting.reportinside.net/producer/pga/page.php?no=010″ width=1 height=1> </div></div></body></html>
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Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 00:08:43 -0700 (PDT)

From: Pam Benson

Reply-To: Pam Benson

Subject: FW:Kim Il Sung:the Great Hero of Mankind(ask your comments)

To: “[DELETED]

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I am forwarding the feature column : “Kim Il Sung: the Great Hero of Mankind”.

This writing concerns his great achievements.

The column is very realistic and beautiful.

I guess everyone who reads this column is impressed with his history.

I wonder what you think about this writing.

Thanks.

Sincerely Yours.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Number of DPRK workers at Kaesong complex continues to grow

May 17th, 2011

According ot the Choson Ilbo:

The number of North Korean workers at the Kaesong Industrial Complex has been growing even as Seoul halted all other trade with the North after deadly attacks on the Navy corvette Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island last year.

There were 46,420 North Korean workers at the industrial park at the end of February, up 11 percent from 42,415 a year ago, according to the Unification Ministry on Sunday. This represents a monthly increase of 334. The industrial park’s output rose from $256.47 million in 2009 to US$323.32 million last year.

Why the increase?

Since all other inter-Korean trade has been suspended, the Kaesong Industrial Complex is the sole window for the North to obtain a steady legal supply of hard cash. The monthly wage of workers at the complex averages at around $100, but they only see between 30 and 50 percent while the rest goes to the regime.

“The workers get their wages in North Korean won or daily necessity coupons, and the North Korean authorities take all the dollars,” said a North Korean source. That amounts to some $4.6 million every month.

If the number of workers keeps increasing at the same rate, the North is expected to earn nearly $60 million this year. With the sources of hard currency exhausted, the North finds it profitable to assign even one more workers to the complex, but that also benefits the South Korean firms there. “North Korean worker wages are far more competitive than those in China and Southeast Asia,” said a staffer with an apparel firm at the complex. “At present we employ 1,200 North Korean workers, and the more we employ, the more profit we can make.”

And Lee Im-dong, a former secretary-general of the businesses association at the complex, said, “We have asked the North Korean authorities for additional manpower of 20,000. As far as the Kaesong Industrial Complex is concerned, our interests completely coincide with those of North Korea.”

The supply of additional workers is not easy. The available labor force in Kaesong and vicinity was already exhausted several years ago, so there is even a joke that “all the healthy in Kaesong now work at the industrial park.” The authorities have turned old buildings in Kaesong into boarding houses for workers recruited from Pyongyang, Pyongan and Hamgyong provinces, said the source.

“The fact that the North is going extra mile to bring more workers to Kaesong shows how desperately it needs dollars,” opined the Unification Ministry official.

Read the full article here:
N.Korea Keeps Sending More Workers to Kaesong Complex
Choson Ilbo
2011-5-17

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Posted in Economic reform, Finance, Fiscal & monetary policy, Foreign direct investment, Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC), Labor conditions/wages, Special Economic Zones (Established before 2013) | 1 Comment »

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