North Korea Power Cut: Pyongyang Diplomat Says Capital Faces Worst Electricity Shortages In Years

By Jeremy Laurence

SEOUL, Feb 1 (Reuters) - North Korea's capital faces its worst electricity shortages in years just as a new leadership takes power in the impoverished state and pushes ahead with lavish building projects to celebrate the centenary of its founder's birth.

The Pyongyang-based diplomat, who asked not to be named, said the city of 3 million and home to the leadership elite, has seen daily power supplies almost evaporate as freezing winter temperatures bite.

"Embassies and others with generators are using them most of the time to compensate both for poor quality and cuts, and I can tell you that power problems are a main issue of discussion," said the diplomat, one of a small number of foreigners allowed to live in the country.

"We certainly assess that there is more darkness on the streets and in the residential blocks in the evening than before/during the mourning period (for Kim Jong-il)."

The young Kim Jong-un has been declared the country's new "supreme leader" following the death of his father Kim Jong-il in December.

Fuel shortages have long been a chronic problem in North Korea which is heavily sanctioned by the outside world for a series of nuclear and missile tests.

Temperatures in the capital on Wednesday hit -19 Celsius (-2 Fahrenheit).

This winter's outages have coincided with Pyongyang's building spree to mark the 100th anniversary this year of the birth of founder Kim Il-sung -- the current leader's grandfather -- including building 100,000 new homes in the capital.

The North is also struggling with chronic food shortages, with United Nations' food agencies estimating nearly 3 million people will need food assistance this year.

Media reports this week said that the North's main ally China sent food shipments after Kim Jong-il's death to stabilise the new leadership under his son. (Reporting by Jeremy Laurence; Editing by Ed Lane)

Comments

[Myoho Mod]

04:40 PM on 02/01/2012

In the GOTP world N. Korea is a model state that they aspire to be with the on addition of a "free market". Spend all the money on the millitary and the top1% while letting the citizens eat grass in the streets. The GOTP has different mythical figures in the founding fathers, Ronald Reagan, and Ayn Rand.

[zt54]

02:03 PM on 02/01/2012

Have China's largest trading partner Wal Mart send them a gigantic coupon, - Free food redeem with your Thermo Nuclear Weapons at any store near you.

Another chance for Obama to blow this one in a long list of diplomatic failure to perform.

Vote Obama out in 12

[The Mikester]

01:25 PM on 02/01/2012

so is North Korea a case study for the Ayn Rand-ers out there as to how low human beings can be brought by other human beings, and still not be able to stand up and throw off the shackles?

I almost think the Rand-ers might learn something from this actual human experience rather than their messiahs ramblings but that would be to much to hope for.

[zt54]

02:04 PM on 02/01/2012

What are you saying Mikester?

[Myoho Mod]

04:33 PM on 02/01/2012

Nope, if you look at the other Huff Post article there is a direct corilation with low IQ and conservatism. Can't fix stupid

[alhorvath]

12:18 PM on 02/01/2012

Screw them. Any nation that supports a million man army but can't provide heat for its citizens does not deserve to survive.

[Myoho Mod]

04:35 PM on 02/01/2012

Careful what you wish for, the GOP is trying to catch up to them on that point

[Leon Engelun]

11:56 AM on 02/01/2012

Run some extension cords to Iran. I am sure they have enough nuclear power to help them out.

[MIKEHAR88]

11:15 AM on 02/01/2012

well if they stopped putting all their money into building statues and paintings of their leader ,,,and put it towards their farms and agriculture,,,and quit being a walled in country and get with the world program as far as socializing,,,,,,,,just saying......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrJdhIqeJGM

[Nate35]

11:00 AM on 02/01/2012

A satellite image of North Korea at night is very instructive. The entire nation is mired in darkness except for Pyongyang, which is lit up like the Las Vegas strip.

[fattrucker]

10:52 AM on 02/01/2012

satellite photos are particularly telling, south korea is brilliantly lit with a sharp line of demarcation at the dmz, north korea is virtually blacled out

[Jon106]

10:02 AM on 02/01/2012

Just forget about this place, the people are not strong enough to stand up for themselves and they would fight to kept things as they are.

[1oldhippie]

10:02 AM on 02/01/2012

Perhaps instead of seeking nuclear weapons they should have worked on energy issues...

[Djay0252]

09:55 AM on 02/01/2012

Each region of the world is falling apart under the weight of its own greed and idealistic idiocies...no need for war..

[Daniel Alman]

09:45 AM on 02/01/2012

Another case of the american media lying. This place is the happiest in the world.
:-)

[Birdman 49]

09:37 AM on 02/01/2012

Hello. Drop the thoughts of crating the BOMB. Then you will have all the fuel you need to run the country. You will have all the food you need as well. Some people never learn. Is it really worth it. I totally understand why they are doing it, but really, 3 mil people are goig to have to freeze because of PRIDE, EGO. Get over it.

[Orio28]

08:56 AM on 02/01/2012

Video cannot be viewed in your area....well that sux

[liquidwallpaper]

08:44 AM on 02/01/2012

I thought they would have plenty of power with nuclear reactors. If they didin't militarize everything they would be able to actually help their people.

[don52]

10:31 AM on 02/01/2012

They have to stop the pupet regime from the South from taking over. China and Russia needs to step up and supply more energy and food to keep them from collasping.

[Nate35]

10:57 AM on 02/01/2012

The citizens of the "puppet regime" are some of the most prosperous and happiest in the world. Nobody's buying what you're selling.

[overcat]

12:20 PM on 02/01/2012

It's still a little early to be firing up that bong...