A 2000% Raise! – Is this the long-awaited economic reform?
Many new laws have gone into effect in North Korea since the beginning of June.  It seems that the government is trying to usher in economic reforms similar to the ones in China. Food ration-ing has been ended, and now prices are on the rise – sometimes as much as fifty fold.  Single tickets for the public transportation service are twenty times more expensive than a few months ago, and now citizens are even being asked to pay rent for their apartments.  Salaries will also increase ten to twenty fold.  Farmers now have the opportunity to lease land from the govern-ment and will be allowed to sell their produce on the open market.  It is important to realize that the earlier prices were very low, and current prices are still far below what we are used to in Europe; however, this is certainly revolutionary for North Korea!

Economic reform in rural areas too?


Since official information is hard to come by in North Korea, it is difficult to judge just how drastic the changes really are.  High-level talks are currently underway with the South Korean government to discuss the reopening of a rail line linking north and south as well as providing aid and allowing family reunions.  The big question is whether the results will be longer lasting than previous attempts....

Many suppose that the situation in North Korea has become so hopeless that Kim Jong Il was forced to react.  On the other hand, the North Korean government has also realized that the planned resignation of South Korean President, Kim Dae Jong, in the near future, could soon mean less cooperative partners south of the border.  Time is running out, and North Korea is try-ing to get as much economic and financial aid as possible. In the same vein, they are looking for ways to emerge from political isolation and re-establish relations with the United States.

We are afraid that the economic reforms will not bring about the desired relief in the food situa-tion, but will force a number of people to use up their last food reserves.  Children, the elderly and the sick, who cannot work and do not receive an official salary, will no longer receive ra-tions.  The consequences for aid organizations are unclear at present.  Of course, we also have higher costs for rent, telephone, salaries for our workers, fuel, etc.  Right now, we are monitoring the situation and hope that these reforms will bring about an outward openness which will bene-fit all citizens.
 

First Container Arrives in North Korea Intact



Markus Kirchmeier instructs workers in the new dairy plant in Namsan


The two new dairy plants (including all accessories as well as spare parts) for the sites in Namsan and Unzong arrived with a short delay but undamaged. Markus Kirchmeier supervised the installation process.  He supported our team during his twelve-week stay in North Korea and spoke very positively about all that he had seen and experienced while there.  The hospitality of the North Koreans made a deep impression on him – despite the serious lack of many food items, all guests are treated to a selection of delicious delicacies.

We just missed a VIP visit!
Danial Gerster, Agricultural Expert, reports from Pjongjang shortly after the big event:
"Our Korean workers are overwhelmed with excitement.  They have just heard on the radio, that The Great Leader, Kim Jong Il, has visited our project location in Namsan.  Such a visit is a great honor for the local people because, for many of them, their life's dream is to see Kim Jong Il in person. We watched the local news report that evening with high expectations: The entire nightly news report was about this visit to our facility!  The 10-minute report was replayed three times on the one and only channel which the North Koreans can receive.  The fact that this farm receives outside support was not mentioned.  If Kim Jong Il had come two days earlier, we would have seen him as well.  When we next visit the farm, a splendid monument commemorat-ing the visit will certainly already have been erected.
 

Humedica Provides Aid for Distribution
In addition to medical material (medicines, bandages, beds, crutches), we also received two large containers filled with glass jars of baby food.  These materials will be distributed to various hospitals around the country by the project leader from Campus für Christus.  The German organization Humedica donated this large amount of material with a value of more than CHF 600,000 to help meet the medical needs of suffering people in North Korea.
 

Zean: Grass Seed Propagation Brigade Requires 8 Tons of Fertilizer
Zean is located in the North Korean prairie in the same region as Bjong Pun Dok.  The focus of this location is the propagation of grass seed, part of which has been supplied by Campus für Christus.  The climate requirements for producing seed are very favorable in this region and much better than in the more mountainous areas closer to Bjong Pun Dok.  The seed which is produced will be distributed among various cooperative farms in the same area.  To achieve the highest quality and greatest amount of seed, it is necessary to use fertilizer.  The lack of fertiliz-ers and the poor quality of the land are two significant problems.  Campus für Christus has cho-sen to support this Grass Seed Propagation Brigade by supplying them with fertilizer.  One ton of fertilizer can be purchased in China and transported to North Korea for only CHF 550.



Zean, Grass Cultivation Location

Our New Worker: Heinz Müller, 29, Fodder Production Expert




Heinz Müller arrived in North Korea in June and plans to stay for six months.  He is working part-time with Campus für Christus and part-time for DEZA – the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Abroad.  This 29-year-old farmer's son was working as an instructor and consultant at the Rheinhof Agricultural School in Salez, Switzerland, before he was overcome with curiosity at the notion of personally experiencing and working in one of the last communist countries in the world.
"I am aware that my work will not make huge differences in the situation in North Korea," says Müller, "but I have a good feeling, and I am very interested in making my personal contribution to counteract suffering in the world.  Donations are welcome, but hands-on participation is also necessary, especially in areas that have personal significance."
Part of what he has to deal with is being constantly accompanied by a translator along with two government officials who observe his activities.  "I think I'm handling it all pretty well, " he says.
 

"The People who Produce Milk and Meat out of Grass"
Please find our special sticker enclosed with this newsletter.  Is it just Chinese to you?

The Korean characters mean, "The People who Produce Milk and Meat out of Grass," because this is what Campus für Christus is known for in North Korea.  This is the slogan used by our project workers when they introduce themselves.  Chinese characters look similar, but this lan-guage is a unique linguistic achievement of the two Koreas.  It is the only language in the world which was developed according to scientific principles to adhere to phonetic rules.  It was intro-duced in 1446 by King Sejong.  Before this time, learned people wrote and spoke Chinese in Ko-rea.  One reminder of this time long ago are the Chinese ideograms which are still used for names and standard words or phrases.

This sticker is just a small token of our thanks to you, for your prayer, financial and practical support.  Perhaps you can use it to decorate your diary, your fridge, your desk or any other place where you will see it frequently and remember the people of North Korea.

If you would like to order more sitckers, they are available on a first come, first served basis.  Just contact our office.

Get your personal copy  of the North Korea Newsletter regularly either in the printed version or as email.

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