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
Chinese language tutoring surges in North Korea as Pyongyang and Beijing...
A surge in demand for private Chinese-language tutoring is sweeping North Korea in 2026, driven by rising public expectations that the restoration of North...
North Korean ramen exports rise, but quality still lags
North Korean ramen exports to China are growing, adding to a food trade that already includes candy and beer. But Chinese shoppers say the...
North Korea’s provincial firms need autonomy, not new specifications
North Korean authorities have been pushing provincial factories to update their product specifications to improve quality and lift flagging market demand — but updating...
North Korea cracks down on moonshine as grain prices spike
North Korean authorities in Hyesan city have intensified a crackdown on home-brewed liquor production during the annual lean season, arguing that using grain to...
Dyed dogs and goats: North Korean traders exploit summer livestock craze
Scammers in North Korea are dyeing the fur of ordinary livestock black and selling the animals as premium dark-furred breeds, exploiting a widespread belief...
North Korea’s grain stores look more stable, but a good harvest...
North Korea's state-run grain stores appear to be operating more reliably than in previous years, but experts say the improvement reflects last year's bumper...
North Korea targets unlicensed home restaurants as cheap eateries multiply
North Korean authorities have launched a crackdown on unlicensed home restaurants in Kaechon, South Pyongan province, ordering small food vendors to register their businesses...
Rice and corn prices hit record highs in North Korean markets
Rice and corn prices in North Korean markets have surged to record highs in June 2026, deepening food shortages as growing numbers of rural...
Shorter shifts, stricter controls for North Korean women mobilized to farms
Members of North Korea's official women's organization are working four-hour shifts in the country's 2026 weeding campaign, but authorities now demand written proof that...
North Koreans skip state mobilization to run private gold operations from...
North Korean people living near gold mines in North Pyongan province have converted their homes into makeshift processing operations, crushing and washing ore to...
