Fatigued North Koreans 'forced to work longer hours'

By Choi Sung-jin

The North Korean government has introduced longer working hours since tougher international sanctions were introduced, causing citizens to feel fatigued, say foreigners who have visited Pyongyang recently.

“According to our staff who returned from the North Korean capital recently, residents there appeared to have become quite edgy,” said Bernhard Seliger, head of the Hans-Seidel Foundation, quoting one of his officials, at a meeting organized by the Unified Korea Forum Thursday.

“North Koreans have begun a countdown to the seventh congress of the Workers’ Party scheduled for May, shouting slogans of the ‘70-Day Combat’,” Seliger said. “Government officials are forcing them to start work at factories as early as 5 a.m.”

Lots of propaganda music was also being played in the capital, he added.

Commenting on the sanctions, the German expert cited two things -- concrete strategy and international cooperation. His foundation has branches in dozens of countries and has conducted projects to promote peace and democracy.