Tag: economy
One year later: North Korea’s tale of two recoveries
In late July last year, the Yalu River flooded for the first time in 60 years, devastating three northern provinces: North Pyongan, Jagang, and...
North Korea’s model blueberry factory leaves locals without a taste
North Korea touts the Samjiyon Blueberry Drink Factory—which makes products from the blueberries that grow around the Mount Paektu region—as a model regional factory....
North Korea’s processed goods push meets cold Chinese market reality
As North Korea seeks to develop its economy by exporting more processed goods, Chinese buyers still prefer raw materials, putting North Korean traders in...
N. Korean investigation uncovers elaborate black market scheme
Authorities in North Korea's Kilju county are investigating evidence that local orchards have been diverting seasonal fruit to black market sales.
"Since mid-July, the Kilju...
Chinese factories fuel North Korea’s underground electronics market
Small electronics factories are sprouting up across Chinese border towns, quietly manufacturing devices specifically for North Korean consumers. These operations produce everything from portable...
Going mobile: N. Korean traders move business home to evade restrictions
As North Korea cracks down on informal markets, the country's commercial landscape is shifting dramatically.
Since the devastating famine of the 1990s known as the...
Pyongyang police crackdown on teen mobile payments
Police in Pyongyang have started an emergency crackdown after discovering that high school students in the capital's central districts made over 150 mobile payments...
N. Korean smartphone spills state secrets
A fascinating glimpse into North Korea's technology sector has emerged through analysis of the Samtaesong 8, a North Korean smartphone. Daily NK's examination of...
N. Korea sets new S. Korea policy, views military pact as...
North Korea has been quietly reshaping its South Korea policy since Lee Jae-myung took office, leaving open the possibility of easing tensions and pursuing...
N. Korean construction workers fuel black market in stolen building materials
North Korea's ambitious factory construction drive has created a black market economy, with workers stealing cement, lumber and steel to trade with cash-strapped locals...
