July 01, 2025Jul 01, 2025
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Actualities of ‘welfare society’

Date: 08/06/2023 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

Recently, Euronews, citing the data released by Eurostat, reported that there has been a hike in inflation rate in the euro-zone in April.

If we look into the situation in each country, it was 6.9% in France, 7.6% in Germany, and 8.8% in Italy. Among the countries of the euro-zone, the inflation rate of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia reached a peak of 13.2%, 13.3% and 15% respectively.

The news continued to say that, although the European Central Bank (ECB) has striven to decrease the inflation rate to below 2%, inter alia, urging the countries in the euro-zone to enforce a policy of retrenchment from last year, the situation is still in the doldrums.

This has caused an angry outcry not only from the countries in the euro-zone, but also from other European countries.

A high-ranking official of the Riksbank of Sweden, which has seen inflation rates soaring as high as 11.7% in January, said that there is a need to pursue stricter monetary policy in order to overcome the current inflation crisis.

The Swedish finance minister also noted that the government is now faced with the most important task to curb the ever-increasing inflation rate in the face of the continuously worsening economic situation.

Soaring inflation rate is leading to an unprecedented price hike.

In the UK, the overall price of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose by 19.1% in March which is the highest record since August 1997.

In March, the Swedish “Matpriskollen” announced its findings of price investigation on over 44 000 food items. According to them, the overall prices of food in February increased by 2.5% over the previous month and 17.8% over last year. The prices of baby food rose by 0.8%, a new high since 2015.

Meanwhile, the Belgian VRT reported that in January, the domestic prices of fish, bread, edible milk, dairy products and eggs increased by 15%, 18.3%, 28.2%, 24.6% and 34.3% respectively.

Such rise in prices inevitably spawns crimes committed to eke out a living.

France is seeing a dramatic increase in theft amongst the old, the young, and students. There is no stop in stealing food to satisfy immediate hunger pangs rather than cosmetics or clothing.

What is more surprising is the shift in public view on crimes with an increasing number of people saying that such theft is understandable if they really have no money and not enough to eat.

Such changes in the people’s perception are bringing about social chaos and disorder.

Recently, Romania’s trade unions in the financial sector staged a demonstration calling for an increase in wages and improvement in working conditions.

The head of the national trade union confederation warned that unless the government takes substantial measures to increase wages, the doctors and nurses across the country would also stop their medical activities and take part in the protest.

In May, several Swiss trade unions reportedly made public that they would stage strikes and protests, revealing that the wage is not on a par with the price of commodities and service which increased by 2.6% this year because the companies only pursued their own interests by sacrificing their employees.

These are not all.

According to the Czech internet newspaper “Novinky”, the French 24TV, AFP, and other major media outlets, thousands of people gathered at the central square of Prague in March and staged a demonstration holding the slogan “Czechs fighting against poverty” in protest against the government that turns a blind eye to the residents’ hardships caused by the price hike.

In February in France, tens of thousands of masses of all strata turned up in a demonstration against the authorities’ reform of the pension system. In the UK, too, where soaring inflation rates have worsened the people’s living conditions, nearly half a million people including university lecturers and staff, and transport and public service workers staged a strike.

European civil organizations express their anger that more and more people are suffering economic distress unable to make ends meet owing to the unprecedented inflation and price hike while commenting that the responsibility lies in the government that turns a deaf ear to the people’s voices calling for improvement of living conditions.

These are the actualities of the “welfare society”.

More From Pyongyang Times

Month of anti-US joint struggle observed abroad

Month of anti-US joint struggle observed abroad

Political parties and organizations of different countries made public statements on the occasion of the June 25-July 27 month of

June 30, 2025

Political parties and organizations of different countries made public statements on the occasion of the June 25-July 27 month of

Society where misanthropy is rampant

Society where misanthropy is rampant

All kinds of crimes are happening in Western society. Child abuse is rife in Japan. The police agency of Japan announced on June 5

June 30, 2025

All kinds of crimes are happening in Western society. Child abuse is rife in Japan. The police agency of Japan announced on June 5

Russian FM criticizes US’ and West’s hostile policy

Russian FM criticizes US’ and West’s hostile policy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the hostile policy of the US and the West in an international forum of scientist

June 30, 2025

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the hostile policy of the US and the West in an international forum of scientist

Technical force buildup leads to high production growth

Technical force buildup leads to high production growth

The Chollima General Building-materials Factory is boosting production by strengthening its technical forces. “Now that

June 30, 2025

The Chollima General Building-materials Factory is boosting production by strengthening its technical forces. “Now that

Delegation of Russian Ministry of Culture arrives in Pyongyang

Delegation of Russian Ministry of Culture arrives in Pyongyang

A delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation headed by Minister Olga Lyubimova, arrived in Pyongyang on June

June 30, 2025

A delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation headed by Minister Olga Lyubimova, arrived in Pyongyang on June

For growth of child of honoured disabled soldier

For growth of child of honoured disabled soldier

People are now touched by the admirable deed of Choe Ju Ok, a teacher of Inhung Junior Middle School in Moranbong District,

June 30, 2025

People are now touched by the admirable deed of Choe Ju Ok, a teacher of Inhung Junior Middle School in Moranbong District,

Output of dairy products boosted in Pyongyang

Output of dairy products boosted in Pyongyang

Pyongyang Municipality has increased the output of dairy products by 30 percent and the production and storage capacity three

June 29, 2025

Pyongyang Municipality has increased the output of dairy products by 30 percent and the production and storage capacity three

Cement complex fulfils first half-yearly plan ahead of schedule

Cement complex fulfils first half-yearly plan ahead of schedule

The Sangwon Cement Complex has completed its first half-yearly plan ahead of schedule. While conducting the frontline-style

June 29, 2025

The Sangwon Cement Complex has completed its first half-yearly plan ahead of schedule. While conducting the frontline-style

Yesterday and today of Pyongyang (2) Ryomyong Street

Yesterday and today of Pyongyang (2) Ryomyong Street

Ryomyong (Dawn) Street in the capital city of Pyongyang is located in the area of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the supreme

June 29, 2025

Ryomyong (Dawn) Street in the capital city of Pyongyang is located in the area of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the supreme

As close as real brothers for over a decade

As close as real brothers for over a decade

Villagers of neighbourhood unit No. 42 of Ansan-dong No. 2 in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, say as follows whenever they see a

June 29, 2025

Villagers of neighbourhood unit No. 42 of Ansan-dong No. 2 in Phyongchon District, Pyongyang, say as follows whenever they see a

Centenarian receives birthday spread

Centenarian receives birthday spread

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Yun Sil, living in neighbourhood unit No. 27 in Kingol-dong of

June 28, 2025

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a birthday spread to Kim Yun Sil, living in neighbourhood unit No. 27 in Kingol-dong of

Joyful camping offers extensive experience

Joyful camping offers extensive experience

Schoolchildren are now enjoying camping in the Mangyongdae Children's Camp in the suburbs of Pyongyang. At the camp located at the

June 28, 2025

Schoolchildren are now enjoying camping in the Mangyongdae Children's Camp in the suburbs of Pyongyang. At the camp located at the

UN organizations express concern over food crisis in Yemen

UN organizations express concern over food crisis in Yemen

The food crisis in Yemen is getting more serious due to long-term economic decline, continuous conflict and severe weather

June 27, 2025

The food crisis in Yemen is getting more serious due to long-term economic decline, continuous conflict and severe weather

Pride of ‘grapevine family’

Pride of ‘grapevine family’

In Neighbourhood Unit No. 17 in Sonnae-dong of Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, there is a family growing saplings of good species

June 27, 2025

In Neighbourhood Unit No. 17 in Sonnae-dong of Mangyongdae District, Pyongyang, there is a family growing saplings of good species

School of high ability and secret of success

School of high ability and secret of success

Wasan Primary School in Sosong District, Pyongyang, which was awarded the title of Twice Honoured Red Flag School, is well-known

June 27, 2025

Wasan Primary School in Sosong District, Pyongyang, which was awarded the title of Twice Honoured Red Flag School, is well-known

Educational methods, techniques of Korean style introduced

Educational methods, techniques of Korean style introduced

The children’s intelligence development technology exchange company under Pyongyang Teachers Training College has developed in a

June 27, 2025

The children’s intelligence development technology exchange company under Pyongyang Teachers Training College has developed in a

More Articles