North Korea’s markets — known as jangmadang (장마당) — emerged from the famine of the 1990s and have since become the backbone of the country’s informal economy. Daily NK tracks grain and rice prices, foreign currency exchange rates, government crackdowns on market activity, the rise of the donju merchant class, and the broader marketization of North Korean society. Our network of in-country sources provides some of the most detailed and timely reporting on North Korea’s markets available in English.
Tag: markets
N. Korea rice prices hit record high as exchange rate climbs
Rice prices in North Korean markets have surged to a record high in July 2026. The spike follows a brief lull earlier this month,...
Markets, not wages, feed North Korean households
"The official salary from my workplace is about 30,000 North Korean won a month. But feeding our family of four takes more than 800,000...
North Korea orders custom e-bikes from China, eyes local production
North Korea is ordering custom electric bicycles from Chinese manufacturers and importing the finished products to meet rising domestic demand. At the same time,...
North Korean beauty salons, saunas embrace premium services
North Korean beauty salons and sauna houses are increasingly rebranding themselves as premium service providers in 2026, bundling haircuts, massages, skin care treatments and...
New tag rule tightens grip on N. Korea markets
North Korean market authorities in Sinuiju, North Pyongan province, have begun requiring merchants to publicly display "item inspection tags" listing a product's origin and...
North Korea rice prices drop nearly 20%
Rice prices in North Korean markets fell by nearly 20% in early July 2026, a Daily NK survey found, as seasonal supplies of alternative...
Homemade beer outsells state brands in North Korea
North Korea beer is losing out at home to homemade craft brews and Chinese imports. Even so, the country's state trading companies are pushing...
North Korean dried seafood and produce flow into China as luggage...
The year 2026 has brought a noticeable shift in how Chinese customs officials treat travelers crossing the border from North Korea, with sources reporting...
North Korea and China launch Myohyang beer brand in Chinese market
A North Korea-China joint venture introduced a new beer brand called Myohyang beer to the Chinese market in 2026, positioning it as a tangible...
Stricter border controls leave Hyesan foragers with nowhere to sell their...
Tightened border controls along North Korea's frontier with China have effectively shut down the mushroom smuggling trade in Ryanggang province in 2026, cutting off...
