After the end of the Korean war, North Korea was a virtually cashless society - everyone worked for the state and was provided for by the state. And in the Communist bloc context of the day, it worked - in 1989 North Koreans were more than twice as wealthy as their comrades in China.

​„Now we think of them as a hermit kingdom and not trading very much.“ says William Brown.

​„But actually they were integrated reasonably well into the Soviet plan system of countries.” says William Brown.

The loss of support from the Soviet Union, after its collapse in 1991, and a series of droughts and floods lead to a great famine in North Korea.

​„The famine ended the public distribution system where the North Korean state fed everyone through the ration system the government couldn't supply food so people launched off on their own.” says William Brown.

Since then, a strange hybrid economy has emerged, part government-controlled - where rations are allocated by the state - and part grey market, where currency is earned in the market economy. For example: A typical textile worker in the state-run Pyongyang textile mill earns around 3,000 won per month - which has a street value of about 40 cents. But that worker pays nothing for housing or utilities and receives food rations. Her sister might legally work for an export oriented company. She's allowed to get 30,000 won per month but with fewer perks. Another sister could work for a Chinese company and earn 300,000 won per month but with zero perks from the government.

​„All the state workers get paid through this incredibly low wage system and are dependent on rations that often don't show up. The ideal situation is for one person in the family to work for the state system and one person earning real money.” says William Brown

​It is a highly inefficient system. In per capita income terms, North Koreans are now 8 times poorer than Chinese and over 20 times as poor as South Koreans. Rather than reform, the government sought to fill a shortfall in hard currency by trafficking illegal goods abroad. According to numerous reports, this illegal business is run by an agency known as Office 39.

​„It's an office that's organized principally to raise US dollars for the ruling Kim party family.” says also William Brown

A study from a Washington-based human rights group trace's the regime's criminal ventures back to the 1970s when about a dozen North Korean diplomats were expelled from Scandinavian countries for smuggling alcohol, cigarettes, and hashish. Later the government switched to foreign organized crime syndicates to sell things like counterfeit pharmaceuticals and heroin, manufactured from state-mandated poppy farms. North Korea's government has dismissed such claims and some analysts have also questioned the data. Since 2005, intercepts of North Korean smuggling have fallen sharply though more recently claims of cyber theft have proliferated. Meanwhile Kim Jong-Un has started speaking to South Korea about opening up for investment in restricted economic zones and he's talked about switching to a more China-like socialist economic construction. Whether that's a true change of heart, or just a tactical retreat in the face of sanctions remains to be seen.​

The consumption of dog meat in South Korea, also known as "Gaegogi" (Korean: 개고기), has a long history. However, in recent years, it has been controversial both in South Korea and around the world, due to animal rights and sanitary concerns. On July 17 South Korean President Moon Jae-in's dog, Tory, become the face of a canine adoption and protection campaign that launched in Seoul, urging people to not eat dogs.

The campaign is led by Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE), and starts during the first day of Bok Nal or the three hottest days in the year, according to the Korean lunar calendar. During this time, some South Koreans traditionally eat dog meat soup (“boshintang”) in the belief that it helps beat the summer heat.

A poster showing before and after adoption images of Tory, including Tory being held by President Jae-in Moon, is being used in the campaign. Countless stuffed dog toys were laid in a large love heart in a public space in Seoul. The plush dogs held love hearts that read “I’m not food.” Stalls were set up around the public display to educate onlookers on the cruelty of the dog meat trade.

"President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook said they are very glad and happy because Tory has totally changed. He looked anxious and sad when he first came to them but now he looks very happy and bright." says Park So-Youn, president of Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth (CARE).

Tory was a rescue dog adopted by President Moon Jae-in last year, delivering on a campaign promise to boost awareness of the fast-growing numbers of abandoned animals accompanying a surge in pet ownership. The black mixed breed became the first shelter dog to attain the title of First Dog, joining Moon's two other pets, a Korean-breed Pungsan dog called Maru and a former stray cat, Jjing-jing.

"First Dog Tori had been abandoned, abused, and raised to be eaten before he was rescued. So we organised this doll exhibition to let people know that dogs are not a dish on a table but living creatures that needs love and care." says also Park So-Youn.

"As a person who has a dog, I feel sorry that so many dogs are abandoned and raised to be eaten. I hope that, through today's event, such situations for dogs will no longer exist." says Kim Ku-Seul, participant in the event.
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Durring the event people also signed up for dog adoption. Proceeds from the toys which cost 30,000 won ($27) each, will be put towards rescuing abused or abandoned dogs, said CARE.

Author: Alexandra Taseva
​Video:  Alexandra Taseva