By Kim Young-jin
North Korea is pressuring its residents to make donations as it struggles to meet a self-imposed deadline of becoming a “powerful state” by next year, angering some of its people, a source familiar with the matter said Thursday.
According to the source, the impoverished regime has dispatched propaganda officials to cities and provinces, telling residents that funds were needed to help the country become a “strong and prosperous” state.
“The regime is squeezing the people even at a time when it cannot afford to provide rations,” the source said.
The drive comes as the heavily-sanctioned North struggles from a food shortage as well as severe summer floods in the run-up to next year, when it will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of founder Kim Il-sung.
Analysts say creating the perception of prosperity is vital for the North to push forward on a power transfer from leader Kim Jong-il to his youngest son, Jong-un.
The officials are telling residents that people in other areas have donated larger amounts, fostering a sense of competition.
The North has turned to its people for donations in the past.
It did so recently for its drive to build 100,000 houses in Pyongyang as well as to secure rice for its military, the Daily NK, an online publication, reported.
The source, who asked to remain anonymous, said the campaign had prompted public complaints.
Floods over the summer due to torrential rainfall wiped away thousands of hectares of farmland, at a time when the U.N. estimated a quarter of the population was in dire need of food.
Faced with such challenges, Pyongyang has turned to the international community for aid. It has also stepped up efforts to attract foreign investment through tourism as well as a special economic zone in its northeast region, as well as to rejoin denuclearization-for-aid negotiations.
Recent travelers to the North say the capital has been spruced up of late. Still, most analysts say the situation is much different in rural areas and doubt such moves can make a significant difference by next year.