What are the streets of Pyongyang in the eye of the storm?

On September 11th, local time, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution to impose severe sanctions on North Korea, including reducing oil supply and completely banning textile exports. In the face of the latest sanctions, what is the situation in North Korea that is in the "eye of the storm"?

After North Korea claimed to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb on the 3rd, it held various activities for several days to celebrate. People held such activities in a highly organized way. Although gongs and drums were rarely played in the streets and public places, the atmosphere of celebration could be felt. On the streets of Pyongyang, the reporter saw that people's lives were as usual, and the situation in railway stations, department stores and gas stations remained basically unchanged, and the society was stable.

The newly completed Dawn Street Street in Pyongyang this year

Celebrates the "test success"

On the evening of 6th, a military-civilian celebration was held in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang to congratulate the complete success of the hydrogen bomb test for intercontinental ballistic rockets. The leaders of the North Korean Party, government and army, successful contributors to the experiment, cadres of party affairs organs, armed forces organs, provincial and central organs, and cadres of organs at all levels in Pyongyang, factories and enterprises attended the meeting. The celebration also held a fireworks display.

It was reported on the 1th that Kim Jong-un, the top leader of North Korea, held a celebration party in Pyongyang for scientists and technicians of nuclear tests, and his wife Li Xuezhu also attended the event. Many streets in Pyongyang are hung with slogans and posters celebrating the success of the nuclear test. There are mass cultural performances in Kim Il Sung Square, Arc de Triomphe, Main Idea Tower and People's Cultural Palace. Television constantly shows footage of nuclear and missile tests, emphasizing that the DPRK has become a nuclear power.

North Korean leaders attended the nuclear test celebration banquet and exposed a rare video on the big screen

In response to the US's push for the "most severe" sanctions against the DPRK, the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 11th, saying that if the United States introduces a new round of sanctions resolution concerning the DPRK in the Security Council, the DPRK will definitely make the United States pay the corresponding price. The Foreign Ministry statement issued by Korean Central News Agency on the same day said that the United States attempted to launch a new resolution on sanctions against North Korea in the United Nations in response to its recent nuclear test. If the resolution is passed, "the follow-up measures that North Korea will take will put the United States in an unprecedented dilemma."

The recent appearances of North Korean nuclear leaders in public occasions and North Korea's tough stance have attracted the attention of observers. Some analysts believe that with the maturity of the DPRK nuclear program, North Korea has shown greater confidence in its ability to counter international pressure. At the same time, the general public also showed confidence in the leadership's ability to resist external pressure.

On September 1th, North Korea's CCTV broadcasted a video of a cultural performance for the scientific and technical personnel who participated in the sixth nuclear test.

It is worth noting that after this test, the DPRK did not invite foreign embassies and consulates and journalists in the DPRK to participate in the celebration activities, and it was entirely our own celebration. This shows that North Korea celebrates the success of nuclear guidance entirely as its own major event and does not care about the views of the outside world.

Economic resilience has increased

The reporter saw on the streets of Pyongyang that the society was relatively stable, orderly and without tension. Students still attend classes for half a day every day and queue up to participate in various activities. The restaurant shop is open as usual, and there are many customers. The supply is basically guaranteed, although there are some shortages of vegetables and meat, there is no sign of social and economic difficulties or even crisis in general.

For a long time, North Korea's non-governmental small private economy has become a channel for ordinary people to improve their lives, and the impact of commodity economy on people's lives is also increasing. For example, in the underground passage of Pyongyang, there are stalls selling simple foods such as corn and cigarettes, fruits, vegetables and seafood. Many shops sell food, tobacco and alcohol purchased from China in various ways, and the private supply system coexists with the government's planned circulation.

The reporter saw that a restaurant near Kim Il Sung University often has students studying in China for dinner, and the restaurant serves various Chinese liquors such as Erguotou and Tsingtao beer. A small shop attached to a restaurant near the Arc de Triomphe has China chocolate candy and so on. This phenomenon is very common in ordinary shops in Pyongyang, which shows that Korean goods play a significant role in the operation of North China's market economy.

Profile photo: On April 17th, North Korean residents moved into their new homes in Liming Street, Pyongyang, North Korea.

Recently, there are demolition and construction sites for new buildings all over Pyongyang, which can be described as large-scale construction. It is not an exaggeration to think that there is a trend of forming a real estate market in Pyongyang in the near future.

The reporter saw that several gas stations dedicated to foreigners were basically operating normally, and only one or two were closed to refuel local vehicles. Pyongyang's power supply has not been frequently cut off recently. Because the DPRK relies on coal for power supply, the coal embargo objectively enriches the raw materials for power supply. Due to the low living standards of the DPRK people, there is almost no other consumption except food and clothing, and the impact of sanctions on people's lives is very limited. Even if some relatively advanced consumer places are closed, it will not affect the lives of most people.

According to the introduction of Chinese companies here, the orders and sales volume of clothing and automobiles began to shrink obviously. There are 2 China automobile sales companies in Pyongyang, and it is even more difficult to do so after the sales volume drops. Due to sanctions, the DPRK's foreign exchange income has declined, and the purchasing power of government departments has also declined. Clothing makers are making orders for the first half of the year, and raw materials for autumn orders are in short supply.

Due to the embargo on coal export, the price of coal has fallen, so people should have a relatively adequate supply of coal this winter.

Profile picture: In 213, coal miners in Sinuiju, North Korea.

North Korean society has quietly formed a coexistence of commodity economy and planned economy, and its ability to resist external sanctions is also increasing. The result of sanctions may suppress economic growth, but the people's own hematopoietic capacity has increased, and they are invigorating the economy through various forms of high-and low-level commodity exchange.

People attach importance to national security

According to Chinese-funded institutions, most North Korean employees are encouraged by the success of intercontinental missile and hydrogen bomb tests, and feel that they have the reliance and killer weapon to confront the United States.

According to the analysis, the nuclear missile test has been warmly supported by the people of North Korea, who believe that once the United States is soft, the DPRK can become a nuclear power and play an important role in the world, and the impact of sanctions may strengthen the cohesion of the DPRK society.

First of all, North Korean society gives people a sense of cleanliness, orderliness, discipline and courtesy, which is directly related to the independent spirit that North Korea has always emphasized. The Korean people are highly conscious, vigilant and have a strong sense of security. The reporter once took photos near the first department store in the center of Pyongyang, and was immediately asked by a female traffic police.

Profile photo: On May 1st this year, at the foot of Peony Peak in Pyongyang, North Korea, people danced to celebrate International Labor Day.

Recently, reporters have not been informed to cover major public events, such as the Asian Cup qualifier between North Korea and Lebanon, the arrival of Japanese parliamentarians and the National Day activities on the 9th, which may reflect that the DPRK has strengthened its security measures. In the past, foreign media were often invited to cover various public sports events and diplomatic activities, such as the marathon in Pyongyang in April, the Asian Cup women's football qualifier and the DPRK leaders' visit.

The embassy district in Pyongyang is relatively deserted, and some embassies and consulates and international institutions are in a semi-closed or closed state. The few embassy courtyards are empty, and there are no chariots and horses in front of them. It is also rare to see diplomats go out. The embassies of some countries, such as Malaysia, have been closed for a long time.

North Korea often says that many people in the world support and sympathize with its nuclear-guided development to counter the US military threat, and the words and deeds of international friends are often reported by the official media.

Every family has its own life. No matter how others interfere, it can't affect their own life.