How is food and economy of North Korea?

[somsak]

Some Vietnamese member here post in some thread I forgot saying that
"We in North Vietnam knows how North Korea is not really that bad as in media".

I start to want to know North Korea Economy, Culture, freedom of life and speech, and the most important: Food security and food distribution. Are they starving? Are many of North Korea too poor to afford food? I wonder how cold is North Korea. How crops could be grown at that cold weather. Do they need oil to grow crops in cold weather?

 

[Huaren]

the situation is well hidden to outsiders, only certain incidents which keep popping up might tell normal folks something about the true picture, for example like how hungry north korean soldiers across the border went rogue from time to time, killing civilians across border to rob them for money and food.

 

[BoQ77]

Vietnam only ship rice and coal to NK. They would use that for their daily need. Rice as food and coal keep their people warm in winter.

If we ship fuel to them like China did, they only use that for promoting more exercises and weapon testing.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

the situation is well hidden to outsiders, only certain incidents which keep popping up might tell normal folks something about the true picture, for example like how hungry north korean soldiers across the border went rogue from time to time, killing civilians across border to rob them for money and food.

More elaboration of these types of events here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/w...-border-welcome-turns-into-wariness.html?_r=0

 

[Edison Chen]

If North Korea opens and reforms, it will be better than Vietnam in only 5 years.

 

[BoQ77]

If North Korea opens and reforms, it will be better than Vietnam in only 5 years.

Wish all the best to our friends !
We get rich, you get rich, they get rich, he gets rich, she gets rich !!!

 

[haidian]

If North Korea opens and reforms, it will be better than Vietnam in only 5 years.

Sure thing, look at what their southern brothers achieved.

 

[BoQ77]

Sure thing, look at what their southern brothers achieved.

the reunion and independence.
and food security

 

[Huaren]

If North Korea opens and reforms, it will be better than Vietnam in only 5 years.

Although I believe lifting the blockade will even be far more difficult than to implement reforms, there is the forced blockade after all. For now north Korea still the paranoid hermit kingdom, taking the same position as during most time in korean history.

 

[Aepsilons]

Although I believe lifting the blockade will even be far more difficult than to implement reforms, there is the forced blockade after all. For now north Korea still the paranoid hermit kingdom, taking the same position as during most time in korean history.

ROK is not a hermit state, please make a differentiation. DPRK is not ROK.

the reunion and independence.

To that day!!

 

[Galad]

None knows(at least from public) for sure.Guesses,lies,propaganda-yes,reality -no.What is certain both Russia and China are investing in North Korea.There was a rumor even -both would provide guarantees in exchange for giving up NK nuclear bombs.Reunion of both Koreas-would be great.But i cannot see it coming anytime soon-not at least in current political climate.

 

[Aepsilons]

If North Korea opens and reforms, it will be better than Vietnam in only 5 years.

I really doubt that.

 

[BoQ77]

I really doubt that.

grow pear get pears, ^-^

If a man plants melons he will reap melons; if he sows beans, he will reap beans

 

[Aepsilons]

grow pear get pears, ^-^

This was Pyongyang during Japanese Rule. It had a different name back then, Heijo.

Heijo was a bustling city , back then !

 

[Edison Chen]

Sure thing, look at what their southern brothers achieved.

I really doubt that.

Exactly. Maybe 5 years could be too short, but if that so, North Korea will definitely surpass Vietnamese in any field. I believe the power of gene. South Korea, a small peninsula country, has world class corporations like Samsung, Hyundai, LG....K-pop sweeps Asia and even the Western world. Then North Korea, though very poor, their streets are clean, their people have passion to success, they are hardworking, they made continuous troubles to China, US, Japan, Russia. Korea, sandwiched by big powers, always tried to play balanced games, they never bow to any big power, that's why they still exist in such worsening political environment. Can Vietnam have such influence?

Although I believe lifting the blockade will even be far more difficult than to implement reforms, there is the forced blockade after all. For now north Korea still the paranoid hermit kingdom, taking the same position as during most time in korean history.

Yes, I guess their blockade will still last for 1-2 decades, not too long.