Daily Life in North Korea

• The nation’s isolationist attitude means its citizens are almost totally destitute by American standards and unaware of anything happening in the world.
• The average worker earns $2-$3 a month from the government.
• Some citizens also have a side job that may earn them up to $10 as well.
• All websites and tv programmes are censored and filtered.
• Citizens who have the privilege of access to electricity only receive this privilege for 1-3 hours a day, this is a privilege for 3.2 million citizens of Pyongyang.
• Pyongyang is made up of the citizens most loyal to Kim Jong-Il’s regime. The elite members of the public.
• In the countryside and suburbs alike, North Koreans are keeping warm by burning so-called “man-made coal”. Made from materials such as sawdust and dried corn stalks, these makeshift coals are being used in place of traditional fuels.
• There is a severe food shortage, which affects the whole population as rations are given out scarcely and starvation is a common cause of death.
• All land is state owned or collectively owned, therefore all housing is state provided.
• Material goods are scarce in North Korea and generally people do not have opportunities to be exposed to expensive commodities. This works to suppress any desire to own something.
• Basic goods are provided by the state either through ration or as a "gift" from the government (e.g. children's school textbooks or uniforms).
• Jobs are assigned by the state in accordance to its judgment of family rank, ability, and qualifications. Therefore it is unlikely for a high-ranking party officer's family to receive manual work in the mines or factories.
• Basic food is rationed, while one can buy canned meat or a small amount of vegetables either from a store or farmers' market.