Capitalist traits in North Korea continue to penetrate

various aspects of people’s daily lives. There is now a pizza restaurant found

outside of Pyongyang, and another in Suncheon, South Pyongan Province, taxi

services have emerged, and pricey private tutoring is on the rise. Adding to

this trend is news of drinking water being sold in markets.

A source from South Pyongan Province reported to Daily NK on

September 29th, “Just up until a few years ago, here [in the North] people

would say in capitalist countries you even have to buy your own water, but that

has now become a reality for North Koreans as well, adding that when there is a

demand, supply naturally follows.

“There is a new market for spring water that is picking up,”

she went on. “Men who don’t have money to open a business are selling spring

water to save seed money for the future.”

North Korea’s derelict water supply system lacks adequate

filtering, rendering it deficient in providing drinking water. This is why

Party cadres and the donju [the new affluent middle class] buy drinking water,

while most others drink from the river or wells. Inminban [people’s unit] or

individuals often use underground water by digging 7 to 12 meters under the

surface and installing pumps.

However, as people living nearby public restrooms, or areas

with contaminated underground water suffer from enteritis, an inflammation of

the small intestine brought on by ingesting food or water contaminated with

bacteria, and other illnesses, the dangers of the groundwater have been exposed.

The North produces its own spring water called “Sindeok

Saemmul,” but it is monopolized by Chosun Neungnado Trade Company and exported

to Southeast Asian countries without ever entering circulation in local

markets. Those who work at foreign-currency earning enterprises, trading

companies, and the donju import drinking water from China.

One 0.5-liter bottle from China costs roughly 0.8 RMB or

1,000 KPW at Sinuiju Market and sells for 1 RMB at Pyongsong Market. This trend

has spawned a new group of merchants who fetch spring water from the mountains

to put out for sale.

“Clever people have already figured out that drinking water

can make them money and are selling it now,” the source said. “These

merchants have been advertising their water as coming from deep in the

mountains, incomparable to that from China, and having medicinal qualities.”

According to the source, there has been spring water in

Chonsongri, Eunsan County, in South Pyongan Province that has been referred to

as medicinal water since the nation was under Japanese colonial rule. It was

also known as “Emperor spring water” among the locals, as the Japanese Emperor

was the only person allowed to drink from the precious source.

Thanks to this longstanding belief, demand for bottled water

from China has dwindled, while Chonsong spring water has seen its sales jump.

As a result, the source reported waits of a 10-hour minimum to draw this spring

water in Chonsong.

“It is roughly 40 km from Chonsong to Pyongsong Market, and

20 km to Suncheon Market,” she explained, adding, “This is why men who do not

have enough money to start their own business have been working exhaustively to

make that seed money and are reaping in good profits.”

Chonsong spring water is 600 KPW for 1 liter, but is sold in

containers similar to oil cans in 5-liter quantities for 3,000 KPW.

Compared to bottled water from China, which is 1,300 KPW for half a liter, it

is a quarter the price.

The source asserted that water from China is something only

the donju can afford, but spring water from Chonsong is affordable for even

those who get by on a daily basis by selling goods at the market, explaining

why roughly 30 percent of residents there buy spring water.

“Water merchants are usually men, and they travel 40 km a

day, transporting 100 to 150 kg of water,” she said. “The market is expected to

grow, because people who have tried Chonsong spring water at least once, stop

drinking the water from China.”

Many are already concerned about their role in the

burgeoning industry, “With the growing market for drinking water, people are

worried that powerful foreign currency earning companies will take over this

field as well,” she concluded.