How the private market brought pork to the table in North Korea



Columns How the private market brought pork to the table in North Korea When state planning failed to deliver a steady supply of meat, Kim Il Sung handed the reins to private pig farmers Andrei Lankov June 23, 2022 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Pigs in North Korea's North Hamgyong province \| Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 17, 2011) North Korean founding leader Kim Il Sung once famously promised that every citizen would soon be able to eat meat (that is, pork) soup daily. However, three decades of attempts to create a state-controlled system of pig farming ended in failure. Instead, it was a rare, officially sanctioned turn to the private market that brought Kim’s dream closer to reality. North Korean founding leader Kim Il Sung once famously promised that every citizen would soon be able to eat meat (that is, pork) soup daily. However, three decades of attempts to create a state-controlled system of pig farming ended in failure. Instead, it was a rare, officially sanctioned turn to the private market that brought Kim’s dream closer to reality. Become a member for less than $4 per week. Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

Columns

How the private market brought pork to the table in North Korea

When state planning failed to deliver a steady supply of meat, Kim Il Sung handed the reins to private pig farmers

Andrei Lankov June 23, 2022

How the private market brought pork to the table in North Korea

Pigs in North Korea's North Hamgyong province | Image: Eric Lafforgue (Sept. 17, 2011)

North Korean founding leader Kim Il Sung once famously promised that every citizen would soon be able to eat meat (that is, pork) soup daily. However, three decades of attempts to create a state-controlled system of pig farming ended in failure.

Instead, it was a rare, officially sanctioned turn to the private market that brought Kim’s dream closer to reality.

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