North Korea will allow family farms this Spring. Actually, it's not as simple as that, but noting the success of such programs in Russia and Eastern Europe (before the Communist governments collapsed in 1989), more agricultural land will be under the control of individual families, or groups containing two or three families. Noting the sharp increase in economic activity since local markets and small businesses were allowed during the last few years, the government is allowing more freedoms to farmers as well. Most North Koreans are farmers, or do some farming on the side. During the last decade, over a million North Koreans have died from starvation, and food is a major issue with northerners.