Tag: Markets
N. Korean workers turn to day labor for quick cash
Day labor markets have boomed across North Korea as farming season drives up demand for workers at collective farms and various agency support farms.
A...
Cosmetics craze sweeps N. Korea
The cosmetics market in North Korea is thriving as women across the country show growing interest in skincare and beauty products.
According to a source...
N. Korea’s market tax hikes drive underground commerce
North Korean authorities have drastically hiked market taxes in several regions, driving merchants away from official markets and toward underground commerce.
According to a Daily...
N. Korea launches crackdown on currency smuggling
North Korea's Ryanggang province has launched extensive undercover inspections targeting illegal foreign currency operations and cross-border smuggling networks.
"The provincial party committee has brandished the...
N. Korean youth drive surge in Chinese bag imports
Demand for Chinese-made bags has surged among North Koreans in their teens through 30s. The trend of choosing Chinese bags over domestic alternatives —...
Grain prices soar in N. Korea as won-dollar rate crosses 24,000
North Korean market prices are soaring again, with both grain prices and foreign exchange rates hitting record highs and driving continued volatility.
According to Daily...
N. Korea expands currency exchange beyond dollar, yuan
Pyongyang's official currency exchanges are expanding beyond the dollar and yuan to handle yen, euros and rubles as North Korea diversifies its trade relationships.
A...
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,...
Dried seafood sales surge as N. Korean families prepare for mobilization...
Demand for food items suitable for packed lunch side dishes has skyrocketed recently in Sinuiju amid construction mobilizations and the start of rice planting...
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...
