juchenecromancer

After studying DPRK wages and prices for a while, I wanted to make a comparison between the economic life of a north Korean coal miner in North Hamgyong Province compared to one in West Virginia, USA.

Working conditions

Workweek

DPRK: 6 hours/day, 6 days/week (36 hours)

USA: 10 hours/day, 5 days/week (50 hours)

Paid Time Off

DPRK: 52 weekends + 71 national holidays + 28 PTO = 151 days

US: 104 weekends + 11 national holidays = 124 days

% unionized

DPRK: 100% (+ Taean work system giving extra worker democracy)

USA: 17%

Monthly wages & expenses

Wages

DPRK: 360,000 KPW

USA: 4,600 USD

Rent

DPRK: Free

USA: 600 USD (13% income)

Utilities

DPRK: Free

USA: 200 USD (4.3% income)

Food

DPRK: Free (From PDS)

USA: 710 USD (15.4% income)

Healthcare

DPRK: Free

USA: 1400 USD (30% income)

Taxes

DPRK: No taxes

USA: 750 USD (16% income)

Leftover Salary after monthly expenses

DPRK: 360,000 KPW

USA: 940 USD

One-time purchases

Television

DPRK: 22,000 KPW (6% of saved income, subsidized by state)

USA: 100 USD (11% of saved income)

Bicycle

DPRK: 250,000 KPW (69% of saved income, unreliable figure)

USA: 100 USD (11% of saved income)

However, most Americans cannot navigate with just a bike and need a car (15,000 USD) while DPRK residents only need a bike due to better-planned towns.

Aspirin, one bottle

DPRK: 600 KPW (0.17% saved income)

USA: $8 (0.89% saved income)

Eating out at a medium-grade restaurant, per person

DPRK: 20,000 KPW (5.6% saved income)

USA: 25 USD (2.8% saved income)

Ski Vacation, per person

DPRK: Free (Paid for by government)

USA: 2,500 USD (278% saved income)

Long-term Expenses

Childbirth

DPRK: Free (Covered by healthcare)

USA: 20,000 USD (2200% saved income)

Tertiary Education

DPRK: Free (All universities)

USA: 52,000 USD (4 years at WVU, 5780% saved income)

Funeral

DPRK: Free (Paid for by government)

USA: 5000 USD (556% saved income)

Please tell me if I made a mistake or missed out on something crucial. Of course, there is no way to portray the increased workers' rights and enhanced democratic system in numbers.

Sources like RFA and NK Daily are pretty transparent in being funded by the CIA/NED. However, NK News claims to not have any government funding, despite the fact that most of the articles they put out are almost as bogus as those from NK Daily. Does anyone have good information on who's behind NK News and why they make Pro-USA propaganda?