Military rice corruption continues to expand across North Korea as both soldiers and civilians exploit the annual grain collection. Each year, the government gathers rice for the military, yet the process repeatedly turns into widespread theft and barter. Consequently, the corruption surrounding this system reflects deeper economic struggles and institutional decay.
In North Pyongan Province, military teams have been dispatched to collect rice and corn from local farms. Each team typically includes eight to ten soldiers who transport the harvest to army depots. Naejung Station in Yomju County has become a central hub for these shipments. However, this same hub has also emerged as a hotspot for military rice corruption.
Locals near Naejung Station regularly exchange items with soldiers, offering clothing or household goods for bags of rice. Moreover, both groups see this as a mutually beneficial opportunity, strengthening the informal barter network that operates beneath the state’s control. The practice has persisted for years despite repeated warnings and inspections by central authorities.
Reports indicate that each soldier can divert roughly one ton of grain during the collection season. With hundreds of similar sites nationwide, the total losses could reach staggering levels. Furthermore, commanders often encourage soldiers to “use the opportunity well,” implying that small-scale corruption remains quietly tolerated.
The persistence of military rice corruption stems from bribery and favoritism embedded in every stage of the process. Officers select team members through backroom deals, while soldiers compete for more profitable routes. When authorities attempt to replace corrupt personnel, new appointees quickly repeat the same misconduct, perpetuating the cycle.
Food shortages and low military pay further drive this behavior. Therefore, many soldiers view the annual grain drive as their only chance to secure food and income. Civilians, too, regard it as part of their survival strategy. As one local source explained, “Everyone takes a little to survive.”
Experts warn that the government’s inability to stop military rice corruption demonstrates its weakening administrative control. Additionally, without meaningful reforms to address hunger and inequality, the state will continue losing grain to theft and barter for years to come.
