The temperature falls below freezing point in mid-October in Yanggang, North Hamgyong and Jagang provinces, marking the start of the long winter. For people living in these northern provinces of North Korea, it is imperative to prepare for this harsh time.

Most essential is to secure fuel and so in September, or early October men fell trees to prepare firewood, making use of their leaves. Loggers crowd many places in the mountains, while those looking for coal loiter around coalmines. Fuel for winter costs between NKW2,500 and NKW3,000, compared to monthly wages that range from NKW80 to NKW100. Until the 1990s little firewood or briquettes were available in the marketplaces and users brought home wood or coal dust aboard rented trucks or tractors for the purpose of making firewood or briquettes. In recent years, however, bundled firewood and briquettes have become available on the market.

Before it gets really cold, they have to remove ashes accumulated in the passages of under-floor heating systems and paste new straw paper on windowpanes. To withstand severe cold winds, windows are covered by plastic sheets on their outsides.

Also needed are winter clothes and shoes. Thick cotton-padded military winter shoes are quite popular, though cotton-padded military trousers and jackets cost as much as NKW2,000. Military winter uniforms are in great demand because they are durable and can be worn outside.

Women exert themselves to prepare kimchi or pickled vegetables, important enough to be called "half-a-year food." In cold regions, kimchi is prepared in cold weather when thin ice is formed. They enter into the so-called ‘kimchi battle’ in mid-October. Since few other side dishes are available throughout the winter, a reasonably well-off household consumes hundreds of cabbages. For transporting cabbages and radishes, all sorts of transport means including motor vehicles, tractors, handcarts and A-frames are used.

(Kang Chol Hwan, nkch@chosun.com )