North Korea farm workers caught between contradictory orders

Farm workers in North Korea are facing a dilemma amid extreme heat, caught between contradictory directives. The first directive aims to prevent crop damage, while the second focuses on averting heatstroke cases. A high-temperature advisory was issued on July 29 for most areas south of the central region, urging farmers to take extreme precautions.

Daily NK received accounts from a source in South Hwanghae province detailing the workers' complaints over conflicting instructions. The heat wave is threatening national food production, making crop protection a top priority. Farms in Pyongsan and Bongchon counties received strict orders to report daily on water management. Midday temperatures have reached close to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

Workers and their children are tirelessly watering crops and maintaining paddy-fish farms. They are experiencing grueling labor from dawn till dusk. Authorities have ordered the establishment of a robust system to monitor heatstroke cases, requiring immediate reporting if any occur. However, this poses a challenge for farms, as they must balance the need to protect their workforce's health and well-being against the directive demanding zero heatstroke incidents.

Farm workers are struggling to decide whether to report the harsh conditions they face, as they believe the directives are causing more harm than good. North Korea has issued heat advisories across the country, including in Pyongyang, as the heat wave persists.