North Korean authorities have ceased distributing regular food rations outside Pyongyang – despite promises that supplies would "return to normal", Daily NK has learned. While last year saw provincial urban centres receive rations from the state's stockpiled war-time reserves, this year there has been very little distribution on offer for those beyond the walls of the "revolutionary capital".

A Pyongyang-based source said residents of the capital had continued to receive steady food rations after the initial post-harvest influx in October. "They gave us enough for two weeks at the beginning of this month and another two weeks on the 16th."

“There is talk going round that the marshal [Kim Jong-un] has taken great interest in food distribution and is giving direct orders on the matter. Even those who were initially skeptical at party promises of regular distribution are happy with the comparatively plentiful rations,” the source said.

Kim Jong-un visits a Korean People's Army base in Pyongyang in this official photo released in 2011. Photograph: KCNA/Reuters Photograph: KCNA/Reuters

But in the rest of the country, the food situation remains tenuous. A second source from Hyesan said: "In January, housewives were given two kilos of mixed rice and corn and households received 10 days of rations on top of that. But there has been nothing since then, and there is no word from the Upper (the authorities) about rations now in April, even though food tends to be scarce for us at this time.”

A third source from North Hwanghae Province added: “Last year the authorities released the 'No.2 war-time rice reserves' but there have been no special directives this year. Even though the rice we ended up getting was spoiled and full of bugs, a lot of people are upset that they won't even get that this time around.”

After receiving word from the centre last year, plenty of cadres boasted that the distribution system would soon return to normal. For most, however, the reality is quite different as "some wonder if there is any rice left at all now that they've released the wartime reserves".

In North Hamkyung, too, there are rumours that even the regional military bases have nothing to eat. “Discontent is there, and talk in the markets centres around distribution and how promises from the authorities cannot be trusted ,” the source continued.

“Rice supply is still not a serious issue because farms are bringing stored reserves to market in order to purchase diesel to prepare the fields for planting. But the barley won't arrive until June, and if the current situation continues there are sure to be households who will struggle this spring.”

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