Image differencing map showing nighttime light increases across downtown Sinuiju and Wihwa Island greenhouse farm

Behind Sinuiju’s brighter nights, a widening electricity divide

Electricity supply in Sinuiju, North Pyongan province, has improved somewhat in 2026 compared with last year. Neighborhoods near provincial and city party offices, the...
Side-by-side satellite comparison of the newly built Samsa and Sangdan train stations, showing their identical rectangular design and orange roofs

Satellite images reveal flooded rail line in Ryanggang province

I analyzed high-resolution satellite imagery of Paekam county, in North Korea's Ryanggang province, and found that a hydroelectric dam has flooded part of a...
Title page of North Korea's criminal procedure law showing its amendment history

North Korea revises criminal law, but old habits persist

North Korea's criminal law reform has moved through four revisions since 2021. Each one has added changes that look, on paper, like genuine gains...
Exterior of the North Korean consulate in Dandong, Liaoning province, China

With North Korea tourism stalled, China agencies push business visas instead

As hopes fade for a resumption of Chinese group tours to North Korea, travel agencies are pivoting to a new product this year: business...
The Central Bank of North Korea building in Pyongyang, as shown on the website of state propaganda outlet Sokwang

North Korea inspects banks over loan collusion

North Korean authorities have launched sweeping inspections of bank loan practices in 2026. The goal is to root out possible collusion between banks and...
A wide aerial view of flooded rice paddies divided by raised earthen paths, with a small tractor working one field, trees and a rooftop in the foreground, and a village and hills in the distance, in Anak county, South Hwanghae province, North Korea.

North Korea rice prices drop nearly 20%

Rice prices in North Korean markets fell by nearly 20% in early July 2026, a Daily NK survey found, as seasonal supplies of alternative...
Cargo trucks lined up outside customs in Dandong, China, waiting to cross into Sinuiju, North Korea

Cargo trucks line up at China-North Korea border in trade surge

Cargo truck traffic between China's Dandong and North Korea's Sinuiju has surged in mid-2026, with dozens of trucks lining up daily at the border...
A bus crosses the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge over the Yalu River, traveling from Sinuiju, North Korea to Dandong, China

North Korea offers custom deals to attract China

Chinese investors visiting North Korea are increasingly favoring a phased approach to their investments. They weigh profitability at each stage before committing more capital....

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North Korea Market Trends

Updated 26-07-05
Exchange Rate 1 USD → KPW
Pyongyang
60,000
Sinuiju
60,100
Hyesan
60,120
Full Exchange Rate Data →
Rice Prices KPW per kg
Pyongyang
31,200
Sinuiju
31,000
Hyesan
31,300
Full Rice Price Data →

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