Facts heard from defectors.

1. People in Pyongyang, the capital city live in adequate conditions. The upper echelon live quite well. Priority for all kinds of materials are given to these citizens.
2. People in unknown small cities and towns suffer the most.
3. People in rural areas live better; they can grow food.
4. The military used to have priority, but not nowadays. When soldiers get sick caused by malnutrition, they are sent to their homes to recover. They bring food back to their bases to help other soldiers.
5. NK soldiers are malnourished; search for photos. They tend to be small. One interesting fact. Look for NK female soldiers. Their faces are rosy, and most look almost plump… well fed… see #7.
6. I saw a military defector (an NCO or officer) explaining about the diet. Rice mixed with corn or barley or whatever, and that not too much. No kimchi (Korean cabbage), so they use pickled (in brine) radish. A dish of plain pickled radish and another radish seasoned with red pepper. There was another dish, but it was also vegetarian. He didn’t mention protein, but I suppose they got some sometimes…
7. Not much to feed the soldiers, so most soldiers must farm or grow food themselves. It’s a bit better when warm, but in winter food shortage is frequent. Korean food is composed of rice and banchan (side-dishes). They have some rice, but not much banchan.. so you get to eat a lot of salt… the men suffer, but women suffer a whole lot more, as they differ physiologically. A lot of salt results in generalized swelling throughout the body… their faces get plump (puffy?), and because of the cold weather, rosy..
8. A recent defector that made the headlines last year (11/13/2017). He was an “elite” NK soldier in Panmunjeom (DMZ area). Why “elite”? NK, SK, UN, US soldiers meet almost daily in this area; you need someone good there. Anyway he defected, and got almost killed by NK gunfire. He was rushed for an emergency operation. His surgeon (a famous person in Korea), did a good job and the soldier survived the ordeal. During the post-operation briefing his surgeon noted thus: his guts were full of parasites, or worms… you grow your own food even in the military. And you can’t get fertilizers… you have to make your own.
9. Kotjebi( 꽃제비). Orphans, kids who have no support whatsoever, social or state. Quite a number of them perished during the last decade during the famine… this is one problem I couldn’t make myself query further… makes me feel so terrible…