February 20, 2026Feb 20, 2026
KCNA Pyongyang Times

Fierce rivalry for making profits, widening gap between rich and poor

Date: 28/09/2024 | Source: Pyongyang Times | Read original version at source

The fiercer the rivalry grows for making profits among capitalists, the wider the gap becomes between the rich and poor.

In the United States, for example, the absolute majority of working people are subjected to unemployment, starvation and poverty, whereas a tiny handful of the rich exclusively possess the substantial majority of social products and assets and wallow in luxury.

According to information available, the assets of American families increased by 1.9 percent on an annual average between 1986 and 2012, but those of 90 percent of Americans did not. Those who amassed fortune were the rich persons accounting for only 10 percent of the US population.

The incomes of company bosses or employers in the US were 20 times as much as those of their employees in the 1960s, 30 times in the 1980s and hundreds of times at present.

The Kyodo News Service of Japan reported a few years ago that the assets of American billionaires increased by over US$1 trillion even though the US was suffering from the spread of Covid-19 and the consequent economic stagnation.

Historically, working people carried on a vigorous struggle to raise their wages. At present, such fights are going on in the Western countries. Whenever the struggle of working people intensifies, capitalists make a “concession” or “compromise” to them, but it is a temporary step to appease their wrath and avoid a crisis. Capitalists set up tricky wage systems to keep down wages under different pretexts and cut jobs on the excuse of “bad” business.

A marked pay cut was witnessed in Japan from the latter half of the 1990s.

Wages kept falling in the country despite the longest perk-up between 2002 and 2008 since its defeat in the Second World War. Such business situations and the separation of income occurred also in the UK and the US. In order to boost their profit rate, capitalists slashed employees’ pay and took steps to fire them.

Today, with the improvement of human intellectual abilities, science and technology develops at a fast rate around the world. New sci-tech fields are opened up and modern technical means are developed, resulting in a boost in labour productivity.

However, capitalists sack many workers to cause massive unemployment as they introduce new technologies, and increase labour intensity by using highly efficient equipment. They misuse the fruit of humans’ creativity as a “scientific whip” to exploit workers.

Employment opportunities decrease for ordinary working people who fail to get higher technical education, and even if they get a job, they cannot escape their lot as low-wage workers.

In capitalist society, the gap between rich and poor has reached an extreme unprecedented in history, arousing the people’s stronger antipathy towards a handful of the privileged classes.

More From Pyongyang Times

Fifth-stage construction of Hwasong area begins with grand ceremony

Fifth-stage construction of Hwasong area begins with grand ceremony

A ceremony of great significance was held in the area of Hwasong in Pyongyang, well known as an epitome representing socialist

February 19, 2026

A ceremony of great significance was held in the area of Hwasong in Pyongyang, well known as an epitome representing socialist

Ceremony of presenting 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers held

Ceremony of presenting 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers held

The workers in the munitions industry of the DPRK are providing a sure guarantee for a continuous development and radical dramatic

February 19, 2026

The workers in the munitions industry of the DPRK are providing a sure guarantee for a continuous development and radical dramatic

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members tour Pyongyang

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members tour Pyongyang

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members, who are spending significant days in Pyongyang after building an ideal farm town

February 19, 2026

Soldier-builders and youth shock brigade members, who are spending significant days in Pyongyang after building an ideal farm town

Performances of participants in People's Art Festival given

Performances of participants in People's Art Festival given

Performances of participants in the Third People's Art Festival were given in different parts of the country on February 16 to

February 19, 2026

Performances of participants in the Third People's Art Festival were given in different parts of the country on February 16 to

Delegates to Ninth WPK Congress visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Delegates to Ninth WPK Congress visit Kumsusan Palace of Sun

Delegates to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il Sung

February 19, 2026

Delegates to the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il Sung

Russian representative censures West for misusing UNSC as tool

Russian representative censures West for misusing UNSC as tool

The Russian permanent representative to the United Nations criticized Western countries for abusing the UNSC in putting pressure

February 18, 2026

The Russian permanent representative to the United Nations criticized Western countries for abusing the UNSC in putting pressure

Chinese FM demands Japan's soul-searching

Chinese FM demands Japan's soul-searching

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced Japan for not honestly and sincerely approaching its history of aggression,

February 18, 2026

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced Japan for not honestly and sincerely approaching its history of aggression,

Russian FM refers to orientation of diplomacy

Russian FM refers to orientation of diplomacy

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned the orientation of the country’s diplomatic work in a video speech on February

February 17, 2026

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned the orientation of the country’s diplomatic work in a video speech on February

Hungary demands EU enforce sanctions against Ukraine

Hungary demands EU enforce sanctions against Ukraine

The Hungarian minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade criticized the forced army recruitment which is being enforced in Ukraine with

February 17, 2026

The Hungarian minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade criticized the forced army recruitment which is being enforced in Ukraine with

Lunar New Year holiday custom of Korean people

Lunar New Year holiday custom of Korean people

Lunar New Year’s Day is one of the greatest national folk holidays of the Korean people. From ancient times, each family cleaned

February 17, 2026

Lunar New Year’s Day is one of the greatest national folk holidays of the Korean people. From ancient times, each family cleaned

Saeppyol Street inaugurated with splendour

Saeppyol Street inaugurated with splendour

Saeppyol Street has made an imposing appearance in an excellent location in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang, the capital of the

February 16, 2026

Saeppyol Street has made an imposing appearance in an excellent location in the Hwasong area of Pyongyang, the capital of the

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

Congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan arrives in Pyongyang

A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General

February 16, 2026

A congratulatory group of Koreans in Japan led by Ko Tok U, chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Headquarters of the General

Chinese FM rejects reckless remarks of Japanese prime minister

Chinese FM rejects reckless remarks of Japanese prime minister

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the reckless remarks of the Japanese prime minister at a press conference on

February 16, 2026

A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry rejected the reckless remarks of the Japanese prime minister at a press conference on

More Articles