The price of rice in the North Korean market is showing an upward trend every day. At the market in Hyesan, Yanggang Province, the price of rice reached an all-time high, surpassing 7,000 North Korean won per kilogram. As food prices rise, North Korea’s economic situation, as perceived by residents, is understood to be much more serious.
According to a North Korean market price survey conducted regularly by Daily NK, as of the 13th, 1 kg of rice was traded at 6,530 North Korean won at a market in Pyongyang. It rose 2% from the price (6,400 won) at the time of the survey two weeks ago (on the 1st), showing a strong trend.
The price of rice in the market of Sinuiju, North Pyongan Province was also found to be at a similar level to that in Pyongyang. On the 13th, the price of rice at a market in Sinuiju was 6,580 won per kg, up 1.5% from the 1st.
Among the surveyed regions, the place with the highest market rice price was Hyesan, Yanggang Province, where the price soared to 7,000 won as of the 13th. This is the first time that the price of Hyesan rice has exceeded 7,000 won per kg since June 2021, when the region was blocked due to a suspected COVID-19 patient.
Currently, the average market price of rice in the three regions of Pyongyang, Sinuiju, and Hyesan is 6,703 won, which is the highest ever since 2009, when this paper began surveying prices in the North Korean market.
Market corn prices also remain stable, but there were some fluctuations depending on the region.
As a result of the investigation, it was found that on the 13th, 1kg of corn was traded at a market in Pyongyang for 3,100 won in North Korean currency, up 100 won from the price on the 1st of this month (3,000 won) during the previous survey.
However, corn prices in Sinuiju and Hyesan markets fell slightly and showed a weak trend. As of the 13th, corn prices in Sinuiju and Hyesan were 3,120 won and 3,200 won, respectively, down 80 won and 100 won from the previous 1st.
Corn prices in Sinuiju and Hyesan have been falling slightly since mid-September, but are still maintained in the 3,000 won range.
In previous years, when new corn was supplied to the market between mid-September and early October, corn prices fell, and rice prices also fell slightly due to the influence of alternative foods. Although new corn is currently available in the markets, the downward trend in corn prices is not evident.
In particular, compared to the average price of rice and corn in mid-October last year, which was 5,033 won and 2,683 won, the average prices of rice and corn in the North Korean market are currently 33.1% and 17% higher, respectively.
As food prices rise significantly, it is understood that the economic hardship felt by North Korean residents has become more serious.
According to sources in North Hamgyong Province, as the prices of rice and corn, which are staple foods, have risen, the number of residents has recently reduced their consumption of rice or replaced their meals with ‘corn porridge’ made by boiling cornmeal with vegetables.
A source said, “These days, many households pick up yellow radish or cabbage leaves that cannot be sold because they are yellow and mix them with corn powder to make porridge.” He added, “I thought eating would get a little better in the fall, but it is difficult to even look at rice.”
Meanwhile, the source said, “There are households in rural areas who are starving even though it is fall,” and “Soldiers with guns are guarding warehouses day and night, making it difficult for farm workers to collect even a handful of grain.”
Source: www.dailynk.com
