Nordkorea - bisarrt, fascinerande, sjukt

The United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, urging North Korea to abide by its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions, and called for full implementation by the international community. We intend to strengthen deterrence to maintain peace and stability in the region and will work together and with others to address the dangers associated with North Korea’s nuclear and missile program, including the risk of proliferation. President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

In the city of Dandong, on the Chinese side of the Yalu River, one can see a long row of restaurants decorated with North Korean flags...
.... These are North Korean government-operated restaurants, to be found not only in China, but also in Southeast Asia, Russia and Europe,.

Indeed, there are tens of thousands of North Koreans employed worldwide. .
....Their job, of course, is to make money for the government and for themselves.

From time to time, one comes across statements alluding to such people as “victims of human trafficking” or “slave labor.” Some activists even demand that the international community intervene to save these people, and ban labor exported from North Korea – until regime change, perhaps.

But are these people actually “modern day slaves?” Well, they certainly do not see themselves as such, and not because they have been brainwashed by North Korean propaganda, but rather because they are doing what they and their compatriots overwhelmingly see as a prestigious and exceptionally paid job.

..it is more or less a common assumption that a construction worker in Russia would normally save $300 a month. In China, the same amount of savings is achievable for a minority, most average around $150 saved a month. Glamorous girls in North Korean restaurants in Southeast Asia and elsewhere can save even more.

Right now, the average income of a North Korean family, including income from the unofficial economy, seems to be between $30 and $50 a month – and we are talking average total income here, not disposable income, let alone savings. This means that after two years of working overseas, the average North Korean is likely to bring back an amount of money that will keep his family reasonably well-supplied by North Korean standards for five to 10 years.

Currently, the U.S. medium income is about $50,000 a year, hence one can wonder: How many Americans would go overseas if they knew that they could bring back between quarter and half a million dollars in cash after two years’ work?

Given the amount of remuneration, it is not surprising that North Koreans do their best to follow the rules and avoid unauthorized encounters with foreigners (which are, of course, strongly discouraged by their supervisors). They stick to the regulations partly because they see them as necessary for their security, but largely because they want to avoid any trouble and in due time come home with bagloads of cash, and this is indeed the fate of the majority.

It might make political sense to introduce restrictions on these labor exports because these builders and waitresses constitute an important source of foreign currency for a regime that is an international pariah. But let us be honest and admit that the goal of such measures, should they ever be taken, is to undermine the regime...

The Russian ambassador in Pyongyang has described life as difficult in North Korea because of a halt in foreign trade amid international sanctions and coronavirus-linked border closures, but said there was no famine in the isolated and impoverished country.

“The most important thing is that there is no famine in the country today.”

Matsegora, however, said while imported goods had effectively disappeared from store shelves, most domestic products were still available and prices had only increased moderately.

There is no deficit felt in the main grocery products category