A teenager in Tanchon, South Hamgyong province, has been making a living in the market after suddenly becoming her family’s breadwinner.
“A middle schooler named Kim (alias) has become a market merchant,” a Daily NK source in South Hamgyong province said recently. “She had no choice but to work since her only family is her elderly grandfather. They can’t survive if she doesn’t earn money.”
Kim’s family initially lived on what her mother earned, but Kim shouldered the burden of putting food on the table after her mother suddenly died.
A second-year middle school student, Kim had such good grades that she dreamed of going to medical school. She was an exemplary student. However, when she woke up one morning to find herself her family’s breadwinner, she had to abandon school—let alone her dreams of university.
“Fortunately, Kim’s mother obtained a market stall while she was alive, at least,” the source said. “Without that stall, she and her grandfather might have starved to death.”
Authorities turn a blind eye—for now
The problem is that Kim could get caught at any time. North Korean authorities have cracked down hard on students and teenagers engaging in marketplace activities, worried that young people could develop ideological problems from exposure to capitalism at an early age.
However, since even the police are aware of Kim’s circumstances, they have largely ignored her market activities, allowing her to continue working.
“There was a crackdown late last month, but the police officer—having heard about Kim’s circumstances—simply left without saying a word,” the source said. “Usually, he would have asked for a bribe of cigarettes or cash, but he couldn’t bear to fine or punish her given her unfortunate circumstances.”
Other merchants actively help Kim and look out for her so she can work safely. “In particular, whenever there’s a surprise crackdown, the other merchants do whatever they can to protect her so she doesn’t get caught.”
Meanwhile, more children are working in markets as North Korea’s economic troubles worsen.
“In Tanchon, you often see teenagers selling homegrown vegetables or wild greens on the streets near marketplaces,” the source said. “Children are on the streets trying to help their families survive since they can’t afford to go to school.”
He added, “It’s frustrating because the state should at least take care of children from struggling families, but it takes no measures and simply cracks down on them, telling them that children must never engage in commerce.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: dailynk.com
