The reporting partner explains, “There is no prospect of economic sanctions easing and anxiety is spreading from senior officials to the public about what will happen in the future. That is why we are so sensitive to even these small incidents.”
The price of potatoes has been rather high since last year. This wasn’t always the case, though, as potatoes used to be quite inexpensive, with prices fluctuating between 350 to 450 won per kilogram, from late 2014 to April 2015. However, according to the ASIAPRESS Market Price Survey, prices steadily increased, doubling over the last 4 years.
While the exact cause of the spike in potato prices is unknown, it can be speculated that the rise is due to markets receiving less supplies of potatoes since the establishment of large-scale starch processing plants. In addition, continuing economic sanctions have led to an increase in poverty and, in turn, an increase in demand for cheap potatoes. (Kang Ji-won)
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Editor’s notes on North Korean reporters
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