A Newspaper Article on North Korea: An example of Social Injustice

North Koreans See Few Gains Below Top Tier

The New York Times: Andrew Jacobs, October 14, 2012

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/world/asia/north-koreans-say-life-has-not-improved.html?ref=northkorea&_r=0  

This online news article talks about the injustices between different societies in the very isolated country of North Korea. Due to the country's nature as a communist state and its current nuclear testing crisis, the state has very few international help. That as well as the placement of gigantic amounts of government funding into their military, these factors have resulted in the state's inability to provide relief for their citizens during times of hardship, such as the recent floods and famines that have struck the nation. However, while the common people suffered (During the 1994-1998 famine, up to 3.5 million people starved to death and reportedly, there were several accounts of cannibalism.), the government officials lived comfortable lives.

A view of the rapidly-modernizing city of Pyongyang. Recent years has seen
more and more skyscrapers as well as newer technology that has been released to the public.

In fact, in the heart of Pyongyang (The capital city of North Korea), there has been construction of new apartment buildings, "...an increasing number of Mercedes-Benzes that roam once-empty boulevards..", and new skyscrapers that dominate the Pyongyang skyline. There is even a amusement park that children of the elite may attend, and "howl with laughter when they slide down a water slide..". To many, it seems that the country has finally begun to modernize and allow its people to lead prosperous  lives.

However, it is not as it seems. When four North Koreans were interviewed, a farmer named Mrs. Kim did not seem happy about the country's current situation. "Why should I care about the new clothing of government officials and their children when I can't feed my family?" she said. Around the countryside, farmers and workers alike are plagued with unemployment, hunger and disease. There has been no improvements to their daily lives after Kim Jong-Un  has become the leader of the nation, and things may be turning for the worse; food prices have spiked as a result of drought and the denial of food aid from the United States. "The price of rice has doubled since early Summer, and chronic shortages of fuel, electricity and raw materials continue to idle most factories, leaving millions unemployed." Pyongyang, being the central capital of North Korea, suffers fewer electricity shortages than other parts of the country.

This is an almost identical scene in 1984. The Outer Party members and the Proles live in miserable living conditions, with elevators that do not work and electricity shortages every few days. They suffer from hunger, especially the Outer Party members, as they are not given any other food than tasteless Party rations and Victory Gin and Victory Cigarettes, which are very inferior brands of alcohol and tobacco. In fact, when Winston contemplates leaving the cafeteria before lunch, he decides against it because he only has a dry loaf of bread in his pantry, which is to be saved until the next morning. When Winston drinks the Victory Gin, he is forced to close his eyes and squeeze his nose due to the extremely disgusting taste of the low-quality alcohol. The only salvation from the terrible food is when Julia obtains real chocolate and coffee (There is no coffee; tea is made with dry, tasteless tree leaves) from the Black Market. So the next time you complain about your food during school lunches, think again!

Outer Party members are also deprived of comfortable clothing; for example, only 3000 clothing coupons are given to each member annually, and according to Winston, a set of pajamas are 600 coupons each. As a result, most Outer Party members, trying to save their coupons, wear nothing to bed. Although in the Party's broadcasts where they declare that boots have been over produced, Winston realizes that over half of the population in Oceania walk barefoot. Also, the Party rations some goods and materials every so often for no reason at all- in the beginning of the novel, there is a scarcity of razor blades and Winston is asked by a co-worker for one, which he denies (Because he is saving razor blades himself).

Meanwhile, the neighbourhoods of the Inner Party members (It is forbidden for others to enter such neighbourhoods, because the Party fears they might realize the inequality of the situation) are comfortable and large. When Winston arrives in O'Brien's house, it is revealed that each Inner Party family lives in a large house (Comparable to a mansion), with servants and foodstuffs (Real chocolate, Wine, good-quality tobacco, etc.) which are pleasant compared to the drudge the Outer Party members and Proles are forced to eat. In fact, some of the delicious, tasty food that Julia smuggles through the Black Market is originally from the Inner Party neighbourhoods.

While the peasants/commoners starve, the elite minority of the society always seem to be prospering. The Inner Party, composing less than 2% of the population, live rich, comfortable lives while most Outer Party and Proles live poor, uncomfortable miseries for lives.