Analysis & Opinion About North Korea

Kim Jong Un speaks at the Ninth Workers' Party of Korea Congress, Pyongyang, Feb. 19, 2026

North Koreans dodge style patrols as constitution enshrines the socialist lifestyle

Lee Sang Yong, Hwang Hyun-uk -
North Koreans are finding quiet ways around the socialist lifestyle crackdown in 2026, even after Kim Jong Un’s government wrote the campaign into the...
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Kim and Trump

Signs point to Kim Jong Un preparing for a Trump-Kim summit

Jung Kyo-jin -
As talk of a possible Trump-Kim summit grows in 2026, shifts in North Korea’s domestic political events suggest Kim Jong Un is quietly preparing...
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View of Dandong from the North Korean bank of the Yalu River, with the Yalu River Broken Bridge and Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge visible.

Nuclear tests, purges and a pandemic: The long road to the New Yalu River...

Yoshihiro Makino -
China and North Korea opened the New Yalu River Bridge on Oct. 15, 2026, a full 17 years after the two neighbors first agreed...
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Latest North Korea News

North Korean traders turn to Chinese mixer trucks and pump trucks

Seon Hwa -
North Korean trade workers are seeking concrete mixer trucks and pump trucks from China in 2026, broadening demand for heavy construction equipment. Trade workers...
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North Korea pushes Russian classes in schools but lacks teachers to run them

Kim Ji-woo -
North Korea is expanding Russian-language classes in schools in 2026 as its alliance with Moscow deepens. A severe shortage of trained Russian teachers, however,...
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North Korean women in Dandong sojourn

North Korean mothers sent to China struggle with years apart from their children

Seon Hwa -
Married women in their mid-40s make up a growing share of the North Korean workers sent to China in 2026. Many of them left...
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A photo of Hyesan's downtown area.

Chinese goods flow back into Hyesan as customs ends holiday shutdown

Lee Chae Eun -
The Hyesan customs office in North Korea’s Ryanggang province reopened on Oct. 12, 2026, after a closure tied to China’s National Day holiday. Autumn...
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A green bus travels along an elevated approach road leading to the New Yalu River Bridge in Dandong, China, with the bridge's white cable-stayed tower visible in the background.

New Yalu River Bridge opens, but customs delays leave trucks waiting for hours

Seulkee Jang -
The New Yalu River Bridge between China and North Korea opened on Oct. 15, 2026, after 12 years of delays. Slow customs clearance on...
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North Korea Market Trends

Updated 26-10-11
Exchange Rate 1 USD → KPW
Pyongyang
71,200
Sinuiju
71,220
Hyesan
71,230
Full Exchange Rate Data →
Rice Prices KPW per kg
Pyongyang
43,500
Sinuiju
43,700
Hyesan
43,800
Full Rice Price Data →

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