{
  "id": 10723624,
  "title": "North Koreans race into the hills at dawn as the acorn harvest pays off",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/north-koreans-race-into-the-hills-at-dawn-as-the-acorn-harvest-pays",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T14:58:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily NK",
    "slug": "daily-nk",
    "url": "https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korea-acorn-harvest-south-pyongan-quotas/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "North Koreans are ascending the hills before dawn this autumn to harvest acorns, with the 2026 acorn harvest becoming a significant source of seasonal income. Employers and organizations allocate quotas, incentivizing intensive gathering during a short period to earn considerable sums. Since mid-September, locals in Kaechon and Tokchon have rushed to the nearby mountains at first light. The region is rich in coal mines and dense forests, including oak trees, making acorn harvesting a familiar autumn job. People blanch, dry, and shell the acorns before converting them into liquor, jelly, traditional medicine, and more. Acorn gathering is so ingrained that schools designate an \"acorn vacation\" annually. The value of acorn harvesting has surged due to North Korea's \"20×10 regional development policy,\" which aims to boost living standards outside Pyongyang by establishing modern factories in 20 counties over ten years. Food factories around Kaechon and Tokchon now prioritize locally-sourced specialty products, with acorn liquor and other processed acorn foods as flagship items. Acorn quotas for locals have expanded, making the acorn harvest a substantial autumn income source, rivaling farming. Gathering acorns requires early mornings to secure the first pickings, with some traveling up to 10 kilometers. While acorns have historically aided North Koreans during tough times, growing demand for quotas may increase the burden on ordinary people.",
  "summary": "North Koreans in mountainous parts of South Pyongan province are heading into the hills before dawn this autumn to gather acorns, and the 2026 acorn harvest has become a major source of seasonal income. Workplaces and organizations demand them as quotas, so people who gather intensively over a short period can earn a considerable amount […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}