Elderly N. Koreans long for Kim Jong Il era as markets wither and smuggling...
Amid persistent economic hardship, it is becoming more common for elderly North Koreans to long for the days of Kim Jong Il, as an...
North Korea bans foreign currency wages, mandates cash payments in revised labor law
North Korea revised the Labor Wages Act in May to make it illegal for workers to be paid in foreign currency. In addition, the...
North Korea dramatically increases fisheries law penalties to combat illegal exports
North Korea bolstered punishment provisions in its fisheries law to emphasize "criminal accountability" in amendments made in May, with those caught illegally exporting fishery...
North Korea launches market crackdown as Chinese imports surge
With imports rising following the recent expansion of trade between North Korea and China, North Korean authorities have launched a crackdown on the illegal...
Hyesan crackdown sends currency traders to labor camps as regime tightens control
North Korean police in the city of Hyesan, Ryanggang province, have recently orchestrated a clampdown on money changers who trade foreign currency on the...
Self-reliance campaign forces vendors away from markets during crucial winter selling season
As business slows to a trickle at North Korea's informal marketplaces, North Koreans are complaining about being constantly called up for mandatory community service...
Hongxiang Group executives return to Pyongyang years after U.S. froze assets for sanctions violations
Representatives from Chinese companies that previously dealt with North Korea recently visited the country, including a company that was sanctioned for providing supplies for...
North Korean rice prices drop nearly 30% in two weeks amid harvest season
Rice prices are plunging at North Korean marketplaces as demand falls with this year's corn harvest and imported grains reaching markets, even as exchange...
Desperate North Koreans sell blood for food as hunger crisis deepens
As North Korea endures a severe food shortage, desperate North Koreans have been selling their blood, a practice that has surged recently after the...
North Korea-China trade surges with imports of food, machinery and exports of sanctioned minerals
Trade between North Korea and China has picked up since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Beijing. North Korean trading companies are importing...
