Introduction: North Korea has been shrouded in darkness for more than a decade. This vast and secluded country seems to remain in total darkness even throughout the day, and yet, in-depth analysis reveals multiple reasons for this paradox.
Background: North Korea, officially called the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, faces a number of economic and political challenges including sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, poverty and gender oppression. This has contributed to the lack of infrastructure and facilities which have hampered the development of energy resources.
Energy Shortfall: North Korea suffers from a severe energy shortage due to limited electric power production, which is estimated to be between 4-5GW per year. This is mainly attributed to insufficient fuel such as oil and coal as well as crude oil, which is used to generate electricity. Moreover, 40-50 percent of the electricity produced is lost due to technical inefficiency and a decrepit grid system.
Economic Hurdles: The North Korean economy has struggled for years, preventing modernization and investment. The country is held hostage by countless US sanctions and has to compensate for sanctions by investing in more electricity than it can afford in order to reduce dependency on the US. Moreover, the North Korean government has caused further economic mismanagement by overprioritization of military expenditure and its isolated economy.
Environmental Factors: The country’s huge reliance on burning coal for electricity production has caused hazardous pollution levels. According to experts, the noxious smog blanketing Pyongyang is a testament to the environmental catastrophe the country faces due to the burning of coal and oil and which exacerbates the energy deficit. As a result, energy rationing is imposed to reduce the smog and increase air quality, which contributes to the lack of lights at night.
Analysis: North Korea’s energy deficit mirrors its economic woes, as the country’s failure to capitalize on its energy resources has effectively sealed its fate as a hermit state. Political infighting and disagreement between government bodies have caused mismanagement and hampered the country’s capacity to produce enough energy. Additionally, the burning of coal and oil for electricity production has amplified the nation’s already significant pollution problems, further reducing the capacity for electricity production.
Conclusion: North Korea’s lack of illuminated streets serves as a metaphor for its bleak predicament. Economic woes, political infighting, and environmental strain have resulted in the country being almost totally devoid of light. It appears that North Korea is also in the dark about how to lighten up its society and propel its economy into a more prosperous era.
Government Response
In response to the energy woes, the North Korean government has announced the establishment of the 2020-2030 Action Plan, which focuses on modernizing and expanding the energy sector. It aims to increase production capacity through the construction of new power plants and the upgrade of existing ones. The plan also stresses the importance of renewable energy sources in order to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.
The plan also focusses on increasing energy supply to the hospitals and other important critical institutions in order to improve availability of energy to the people. Additionally, the government is exploring ways to increase energy conservation, including by reducing energy consumption through the use of efficient systems and lighting.
Efforts have also been made to promote industrial energy initiatives including the use of waste-to-energy technologies, an initiative that has been gradually integrated into the industrial sector. This is intended to reduce the environmental impact of addiction to fossil fuels.
International Cooperations
The international community has been instrumental in North Korea’s energy crisis. Although the US has imposed sanctions, other countries are increasingly helping North Korea find solutions. This assistance has brought several projects and programs that have attempted to improve the energy infrastructure of North Korea.
Most notably, China has been part of North Korea’s energy sector. In March 2021, North Korea and the China University of Petroleum signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand collaborative research in the oil and gas sector. Additionally, the two countries have been working on the construction of an electrified railway line. This is expected to be completed in 2022, providing stability to the energy supply of the country.
In April 2021, Russia also signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Friendship with North Korea to work on the energy sector and job creation. In addition to this, Russian energy companies have provided financial and technical support to North Korea.
Citizens Initiative
In 2021, North Korean citizens have taken the initiative to combat their energy woes. With the help of various missionary groups, education programs and donation drives, a project called the Street Lighting Project was established in order to introduce solar power to cities with no access to lighting. This project aims to provide light to about 100 streetlights in North Korea.
The project also identified priority places in rural areas, such as homes and schools, that need lights. The project works on the principle of “one person, one light”. This means that each donor contributes to the funding of one solar light, which is then distributed in North Korea.
By the end of 2021, the project had successfully distributed 17,000 solar lights to North Koreans in need. This success has encouraged more citizens to engage in similar initiatives that can help provide light to the dark streets of North Korea.
Business Cooperation
Businesses have also been playing their part in increasing energy supply in North Korea. An example is the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) which signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021 between the Ministry of Trade and Industry of North Korea and the United Nations Action for Cooperation Business.
This agreement is intended to explore ways to develop bilateral cooperation in the field of energy by working on projects aimed at increasing access to energy, such as the installation of solar power systems in rural areas and the renovation of existing network infrastructures.
The South Korean electricity company KEPCO has further offered assistance to North Korea on the energy front. Following numerous discussions in 2021, the firm established the North Korea Energy Cooperation Group (NECG) to facilitate the development of energy infrastructures in the North.
