Tag: border closure
N. Koreans fear another border closure as COVID cases rise in...
As word spreads about rising COVID-19 cases in mainland China, North Koreans living near the border are increasingly worried about another potential border closure,...
State-sanctioned smuggling revives hope in N. Korean border economy
North Korea is conducting both imports and exports through state-sponsored smuggling operations in the Hyesan area of Ryanggang province. Local residents are increasingly optimistic...
Waku and compromise: The shifting landscape of N. Korean trade
North Korean smugglers are increasingly seeking employment with trading companies to circumvent recent government crackdowns on private smuggling. This strategic shift appears to allow...
Amid flu surge, N. Koreans skip doctors for self-prescribed medicines
North Korea is experiencing a surge in influenza cases, but rather than seeking medical care, many residents are turning to self-prescribed medicines from local...
Split families face new scrutiny as N. Korea labels South ‘hostile...
North Korea has directed officials to revise documents relating to families split between North and South Korea and mandated ideological training for these families,...
Market shock as North Korean won-dollar rate breaks records
North Korea's market exchange rates have soared to unprecedented levels. After stabilizing for two months following a peak in early September, the US dollar...
N. Korean workers in China face severe stress due to repatriation...
North Korean workers in China are complaining of severe stress due to continued delays in their return home and their stifling lives confined to...
Regime’s currency controls backfire as N. Korean won weakens
The U.S. dollar traded for 16,100 North Korean won in Pyongyang on Sept. 15, down slightly from a record high of 16,500 won on...
Irony: N. Korean smugglers needed to fix anti-smuggling fences
Recent flood damage to North Korea-China border guard posts and fences has heightened Pyongyang's concerns about defections and smuggling. While authorities have ordered swift...
N. Korean cosmetics factories face dilemma due to poor sales
North Korean cosmetics factories are struggling with debt because no one is buying their products.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in North Korea...
