GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN P'YONGYANG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R013900070009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 14, 2006
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 25, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/03/03 : CIA-RDP82-00457RO13900070009-6
y
P
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY /' 01HOPULATE
COUNTRI( :.-Korea
SUBJECT General Econcviic Conditions in Ptyongyang
25X1
INFORMATION REPORT REPORT
CD NO.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE '
ACQUIRED
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATIONAFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OP TITLE 10, SECTIONS 793
AND 794. Of THE U.S. COVE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION ON REVE-
LATION OP ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE REPRODUCTION Of THIS FORM IS PRONISITID-
CLASS I, 1 CAT ION
CQNFIDENT?AL
SECURITY INFORMATION 25X1
DATE DISTR. 25 September 1952
NO. OF PAGES 4
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
'.Living oadutjonei and Governwnt Controlal
On 1 January .7.952?the population of Ply ngyang was approximately 120,000
personal on 1 March 1952 the population was apprcocimately 150,000 ,persons,
on 15 May 1952 most of. the 1200,000 persons living in P1yongyang had
evacuated from the central sector to the western sector of the city. Approxi-
mately 30 percent of the city("s total population were goverment employees,
In June 1952 persons from rural areas ' who had sufficient income were moving
n an which considered relativesafe be
into P p...
cause of the heavy
anti-iii craft protectidsi was arouxld the oity, host ` ersons here llvrig in
temporary ahede built upon the city's rubble. United Nations bmbardaent
on 1!; August 1951 had reduced the city's populace to,deaperate living conditions.
4. Dy 2C June 1952 North Korean government controls over the business and social
activity of ?'y'3hgyang residents had been lighteneds these oyntrols wore,
however, muo}i.more strictly enforced in areas other t Ian Pyongyang. Officials
had relaxed tax and labor mobilteationrequirements and regulations oohoernlgg
attendance at meetings of vocational and cultural groups for residents of
P~
yongyang6
Ptyongyang police and security officials were not, as previously, conducting
CLASSIFICATION OONFIDENTIAL
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house searches without notification,
In June boys 17 and 18 years old were required to attend either primary or middle
school4 Attendance was small, however, because of inadequate income of the
parents and a fear of air raid:. Men from 19 years of age through 32 years were
being conscripted into the army. Persons from 33 years of age through 50 years
were required to work for 60 to 90 days each year. Conscript labor was generally
sent to Sunan on foot to work in the monazite mines for 20 days. Thirty days,
however, were generally necessary before an individual could fulfill his
production quota, Mine laborers were recei:;rn.ng food but no re bursemant for
travelling expenses,
7. In June women were being required to remove rubble from the city each day and
attend propaganda meetings each week.
8. In mid-May North Korean arnq soldiers were scattered throughout the city to prevent
looting by residents.
9. In June loud speakers installed on street poles -were broadcasting propaganda
between 5$30 am. and 11:30 p.m. each day.
10, By 22 June propaganda emphasizing the achievements-of the North Korean army had
greatly decreased.
11,. In June the curfew in Peyongyang was from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
12. By 22 June, although the curfew in Poyongyang extended from 10 p.m, to
persons were being permitted on city. streets throughout the night,
Economic Conditions and Commoditj Price Rise
13. In June the frequency of issue and the amount of grain rations were irregular.
Fama.l.ies of persons who fled to the sDuth were'denied grain rations. Farmers
were placing small amounts of grain on the Pyongyang market to meet heavy ,taxes,
fund campaigns for weapons, and membership dues for the Farmers' Alliance.
In June the Karuye market at approximately YD-383257, the market at approximately
YD--382248 at.Inbung-ni (125-45, 39-03) (YD-.3825), the market at approximately
YD-382243 at Kirim?ni (125,45, 39-02) (YD 3824), and the Choiupung?ni market at
approximately YD-386273 were the most active markets in the-PAyoongyang area,
15, By 22 June officials had not instituted anti-inflation measures to cope with the
severe rise in commodity prices between March 1952 and June 1952. Only government
employees and industrial workers were receiving food rations. The monthly income
necessary for a middle-class family of five persons was approximately 50,000
North Korean won.
16. On 8 March 1952 commodity prices in the Peyongyang area in North Karem won were
as follows:
Rice, 10 liters
Cora; 10 liters
Dried fish, 20
4,500
2,000
800
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-3-
Cotton cloth, 1 p r i.12
h,000
Stockings, 1 pair
200
Women ' s rubber shoes, 1 pair
2,000
Tennis shoes, 1 pair
1#,000
Chinese navy cigarettes, 1 package
200
Czechoslovakian army shoes, 1 pair
4, 000
North Korean cigarettes, 1 package
104
Tobacco, 1 package
100
Liquor, ! hop 2
1,000
Beef,,, 600 grams
1,000
Pork, 600 grams
800
Chicken, 1
8,000
17.; On 22. June commodity prices in the P s yongyang
follows:
area in North Korean won were as
Rice, 9 liters
4,700
Millet,9 liters
4,700
Barley, 9 liters
4.,500
Sorghum, 9 liters
14,000 .
Eggs, 1 dozen
1,000
Rubber shoes, 1 pair
2,500
Haircut
150
Matches, 1 small box
60
Sneakers, Chinese, 1 pair
3,500
Chinese cigarettes, 1 package
boo
Laundry soap, 1 bar
350
North Korean cigarettes, 1 package
4030
Socks, 1 pair
35?
Sheeting cloth, 1 yard
boo
Home-spun cotton, 30 feet
2;,000
C O I IDENTIAL
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Woman's dress, Korean, 1
Marl's suit, Korean, 1
Streptomycin (U..S. manufacture)
Penicillin (U.S. manufacture)
Penicillin (Chinese manufacture)
10,000
5,000
8,000)
2,300
2,000
25X1 Covent. One
1.,..~. .~? 0a is 40 yards; one hop is three-tenths of a pint.
CONFIDENTIAL
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