On the internet, there exists a plethora of statistics and facts about world poverty. While this is beneficial in terms of giving readers a feeling of what is going on in the world, it can also be overwhelming. Statistics and data, however, do not sufficiently depict the realities of impoverished countries. As a result, many people rely on novels to comprehend the human experiences of individuals living in impoverished countries. Most people are unaware of North Korea’s poverty, and novels are an excellent method to educate readers.
Information is relayed through storytelling, and it helps people to obtain official facts. It enables readers to comprehend the realities and feelings of others. Personal experiences, according to the BBC, are crucial in efficiently drawing attention to severe problems in their environment. The emotional response of the readers acts as a catalyst for assistance.
North Korea and Poverty
For many people, North Korea is a mysterious and unknown place. Its population has grown to 25 million people since 1948. North Korea is impoverished as a result of its economic structure and lack of engagement in the global economy. Approximately 60% of the population of North Korea is impoverished.
North Korea operates on the basis of a command economy, which is common in communist nations. Due to a lack of rivalry among firms, the government has complete control over all monetary exchanges, causing the economy to stay largely static. Furthermore, trade restrictions and sanctions imposed by North Korea have severely harmed the country’s economy. As a result of this lack of engagement, the country has practically been shut out of the international market. North Korea’s economy is in danger of collapsing, and poverty levels are rising. Fortunately, the publications listed below contribute to the fight against global poverty by depicting the pain that exists and demonstrating why action is required.
The Girl with Seven Names by Hyeonseo Lee
This work, which was released in 2015, has received widespread acclaim for its ability to communicate such profound human feeling in horrible circumstances. The author’s experiences in North Korea are chronicled in The Girl With the Seven Names. It depicts Lee’s family’s effort to escape poverty. Lee explains the heinous abuse and awful situations she endured while living under the present North Korean leadership in her book.
She also discusses how such events have affected her and those around her emotionally. This publication gives readers a behind-the-scenes peek into North Korea’s poverty. Readers will also gain a better understanding of the people of this country’s living conditions.
The Accusation by Bandi
Between 1989 and 1995, The Accusation was a collection of short stories. This book is unique in that it is not a standard memoir, but rather a collection of tiny chapters that represent the daily lives of North Koreans living in poverty. Information has been difficult to obtain due to the country’s secrecy. As a result, Bandi’s work has become one of the country’s scarce sources. In order to continue reporting, Bandi has chosen to live in North Korea. The Accusation has received a lot of appreciation for its straightforward wording and significance as a primary source.
Dear Leader: My Escape from North Korea by Jang Jin-Sung
Dear Sir or Madam, My Escape from North Korea has received critical acclaim as an expos on the way North Korean high-ranking officers live. Kim Jong-poet il’s laureate at the time was author Jang Jin-Sung. As a result, he gained access to highly filtered information. In this piece, the author and protagonist are forced to depart the country as fugitives after lending a banned magazine to a friend. His writings provide a fascinating look into the life of the upper elite and how the power structure works.
Furthermore, Jin-novel Sung’s reveals the political pressures that come with working closely with Kim Jong-il, as well as the harsh penalties of spreading information. Jin-Sung is able to supply an incredible amount of useful information for people who want to learn more about North Korea’s social injustice.
How These Books Help
These are only a few of the novels that shed light on North Korean people’s experiences and poverty. Many NGOs and countries, thankfully, continue to provide food and monetary relief to those in need. China and South Korea are the most frequent donors to North Korea, with China sending an incredible 240,074 tons of food to the country in 2012. Switzerland, Sweden, Canada, Norway, France, Germany, Denmark, Finland, and Ireland have also pledged to help alleviate poverty in North Korea, according to the UN.
Although North Korea appears enigmatic and closed off, investigating the country’s living conditions is not impossible. Readers will be able to comprehend human challenges that have occurred in this area for almost half a century thanks to primary documents and biographies depicting life in North Korea. Recognizing poverty and understanding how to help has prompted many people to take action today.
What will North Korea’s GDP be in 2021?
According to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts, North Korea’s GDP is anticipated to reach 19.00 USD billion by the end of 2021. According to our econometric models, North Korea’s GDP will trend around 19.00 USD billion in 2022 and 20.35 USD billion in 2023 in the long run.
North or South Korea, who is wealthier?
According to these estimations, South Korea’s standard of life is 20 times higher than North Korea’s, and its overall GDP is 40 times larger. One percent of South Korea’s GDP is over half that of North Korea’s.
Is North Korea well-off?
While North Korea does not make its economic data public, data given by Trading Economics and the World Bank placed the country’s GDP at $18 billion (14.1 billion) by the end of 2020, and demonstrates that it has been expanding year on year. Although this is a small fraction of South Korea’s GDP, which was estimated by the World Bank to be $1.6 trillion (1.3 trillion) in 2020, the fact that North Korea is growing suggests that international sanctions aimed at crippling its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs have had little effect.
North Korea has what kind of economy?
(Centralized) command economy The government controls the means of production and establishes economic development priorities and emphases. Since 1954, a series of national economic plans have been used to implement economic policy. Postwar rehabilitation and the expansion of heavy industries, particularly chemicals and metals, were given top emphasis in the early plans. Following that, plans concentrated on resource exploitation as well as technology, mechanization, and infrastructure improvements. Agriculture received little attention until the 1970s, and efforts to increase the quality and quantity of consumer goods did not begin until the late 1980s.
Is it legal to consume alcohol in North Korea?
In the DPRK, there are no limits on alcohol. Although it is often frowned upon for students to drink, there is no legal drinking age (this includes university students). The state gives top producers, such as Taedonggang Beer, special classification, ensuring that they have preference over other firms. A national liquor is currently being debated, comparable to how Scotland has whisky, China has baijiu, and Japan has sake. Ration card beer bars can be found in every district in Pyongyang, where citizens can get up to 10 pints of beer every month on rations. Additional beers are available, but they must be paid for in cash. There are no laws against public drinking, however it is prohibited to drink (or smoke) near political or revolutionary places. North Koreans can be found drinking, singing, dancing, and even performing standup comedy routines in public parks and at the seashore on holidays and Sundays. Bars are frequent, and they can get rather crowded outside of business hours.
Why are there food shortages in North Korea?
Agriculture in the modern era. North Korea’s food supply is beset by two primary problems. The first is its agricultural practices. According to experts, Pyongyang may have spent in new military technologies and missiles, but it lacks the sophisticated machinery required for a quick and profitable harvest.
Why does South Korea appear to be so much wealthier than North Korea?
North Korea’s Demise South Korea’s per capita GDP substantially exceeds that of North Korea by the 1990s, thanks to its own industrial revolution and growing openness to foreign trade. South Korea’s per capita GDP is now 40 times bigger than North Korea’s after thirty years.
North Korea versus the Philippines: who is wealthier?
Make 4.9 times the amount of money As of 2015, North Korea’s GDP per capita was $1,700, whereas the Philippines’ GDP per capita was $8,400.