North Korea’s trade officials are running a pay-to-work racket
To get a coveted work posting in China, North Korean trade workers are being forced to hand over as much as $20,000 in cash...
North Korea orders AI and new energy push, threatens managers who inflate results
North Korea has ordered industrial managers across the country to abandon inflated production statistics and pivot to quality-driven economic growth powered by new energy...
North Korea-China rail revival fuels trade surge, sanctions evasion attempts
Goods ranging from manufactured products to agricultural produce are moving through the newly resumed North Korea-China passenger rail service, with North Korean trading companies...
North Korean military fish farm run as private feeding trough for officers, worker complaint...
A military seafood production unit in North Hamgyong province is under investigation after a worker filed a formal complaint alleging that base commanders have...
North Korean remittance brokers shut down for SPA election
North Korean remittance brokers suspended operations in border cities ahead of the March 15 Supreme People's Assembly election, shifting instead to public participation in...
Smuggling resumes at Hyesan as North Korea-China trade signals point to broader thaw
State-sanctioned smuggling along the border in Hyesan, Ryanggang province has resumed after a roughly three-month suspension, bringing relief to traders whose goods had been...
North Koreans unimpressed by missile tests as prices soar
North Koreans expressed frustration this week over a series of missile test launches carried out amid soaring food prices, with many people saying the...
North Korea’s electricity shortage threatens five-year plan targets
North Korean companies have struggled to maintain production since the start of the year due to a severe electricity shortage that officials say is...
North Koreans sour on fancy factory sweets as taste fails to match packaging
North Korea has seen a marked increase in the distribution of factory-made candy and cookies across the country, but citizens in North Pyongan province...
Rice and corn prices hit record highs in North Korea amid China transport revival
Rice and corn prices at North Korean markets have surged to historic highs in 2026, with the won's sharpest depreciation against the dollar on...
