Forecast for North Korea: Less Filling, More Fission

There are more alarming signs that famine may again worsen in North Korea, reports the BBC. The report quotes writer Paul French, who blames Stalinist collectivization for destroying any incentive to increase production, given that the any surplus will be skimmed off. :

Instead, they concentrate on their own private plots, which they use to feed themselves and to produce food for the markets. . . . The problem with this system is that market reforms, instituted in 2002, have sent prices soaring at a higher rate than wages.

“Who can afford this stuff in the markets?” asked Mr French. The answer: only the elite. Government officials, senior managers of state enterprises, security forces, and the leadership of the army are all unlikely to go hungry. But a typical urban family can now only afford to buy 4kg of maize – the cheapest commodity – a month. (emphasis mine)

The report goes on to note that the recently reduced public ration of 250g of food per person per day–the equivalent of two medium-sized potatoes–is likely to be further reduced to 200g. The estimated minimum necessary for survival is 300g.

And how is North Korea allocating its scarce resources, besides ferrying around South Korean leftists? More nukes!

North Korea is boosting its arsenal of nuclear weapons, the communist state’s Vice-Foreign Minister, Kim Gye-gwan, has told the US ABC News network.

Yun Min-Seok, whose name is eponymous if your imagination is good enough, was unavailable for comment. So does this mean the talks are off again, again?