North Korean Starvation Still Seen As A Factor In 2010

Hyok Kang, born 1986, escaped from North Korea with his family in 1998 and then spent four years in China before going to South Korea. This is Paradise is the story of his life up to that escape – surviving famine in his hometown of Onsong (northeast N.K.) on tree-bark soups, rat hunts, and night-time raids on state farms. The North Korean famine is estimated to have killed 2 – 3 million since 1993-94, peaking in 1997, but still believed to be a factor today. Some resorted to cannibalism. Hyok’s story is consistent with that told by other refugees, though its ending is not quite as happy.

Hyok was fortunate to live near coal mines – his (and others’) scavenging at least meant they were not threatened by 20-30 below freezing. (This became more problematic after electricity was shut off to the mines, allowing most to flood.)

…Radios and TVs (Hyok’s family received one from relatives in Japan) are supposed to be permanently tuned to the only North Korea station – living near China, however, they still managed to receive Chinese broadcasts. (Later the TV was sold for food during the famine.)

…The towns’ 5 tractors were immobilized from lack of fuel. The train to Pyongyang ran about every 2-3 weeks, at less than 5 kph. Travel permits (bribes required) are a necessity – the regime doesn’t want its showplace (Pyongyang) overrun by the poor and disabled. The ‘affluent’ have bicycles.

Farmers were required to meet weight quotas, and often did so by adding rocks.

Basil and Spice