Despite the lean season, referred to domestically as the "barley hump," during which grains typically get pricier in North Korea, prices are instead on a downward trend, Daily NK has learned.

Daily NK��s sources within the country believe relaxed restrictions on marketplace activity under the Kim Jong Un regime has helped create a balance in the supply and demand of food by way of imports, narrowing the range of price swings even when the local supply dips during the ��barley hump.��

��People were quite worried about the economic sanctions from China but are now relieved to see that rice prices have not changed much,�� a source in Ryanggang Province told Daily NK, She reported that in her region, rice, which had been selling at 5,000 KPW (a kilogram) until just a few days ago, had dropped to 4,500 KPW; corn, which fetched 1,200 KPW, slid to 1,000 KPW; and pork prices fell about 1,000 KPW to 11,100 KPW.

��More vendors now import rice, corn, etc. from China, so there��s more than enough to go around even after making up for the shortfall in local supply during the barely hump,�� she added, explaining that the dip in rice prices is in large part due to the upcoming harvest of early potatoes and barley, as vendors look to offload their supplies.

��Pork and other meats don��t sell very well when the weather is hot, so they��re sold for lower prices because they are hard to keep refrigerated."

*KPW per Kilogram

The respective foreign exchange rates in Pyongyang, Sinuiju, and Hyesan, also indicate the local currency has strengthened slightly against the Chinese renminbi compared to last week.

*KPW Exchange Rate

��In a few days, early potatoes are expected to be harvested in Samjiyon, Paegam, and Pochon Counties, and as such potato prices in the markets are dropping little by little,�� the source said. ��Last year, prices peaked because of the spring drought, but this year, things have remained stable despite the economic sanctions.��