Prices in North Korea are rising sharply. ASIAPRESS conducts weekly price surveys through reporting partners living in the northern provinces of North Hamgyong and Ryanggang. The latest survey, conducted on March 13, found that gasoline and diesel prices had risen more than 40% compared to the previous week. (HONG Mari / KANG Jiwon)
◆ Diesel up 3.5x, white rice up 2.8x year-on-year; North Korean won worth less than half of last year
The following prices were reported by reporting partners living in North Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces. Fuel and food prices are per kilogram.
| 2025/3/14 | 2026/3/6 | 2026/3/13 | Rate of increase | |
| Gasoline | 19,000 | →45,000 | →64,000 | 237% (42%) |
| Diesel | 16,700 | →42,000 | →62,000 | 271% (48%) |
| White rice | 8,700 | →23,000 | →24,000 | 176% (4%) |
| Corn | 3,300 | →4,200 | →4,500 | 36% (7%) |
| 1 Chinese yuan | 3,100 | →6,400 | →7,200 | 132% (13%) |
| 1 US dollar | 22,400 | →45,000 | →52,000 | 132% (16%) |
※ Rate of increase is year-on-year for the same period. Figures in parentheses are week-on-week.
※ White rice and corn are banned from open market sale. ASIAPRESS surveys and publishes prices from private transactions (which are illegal).
Prices have risen sharply across all surveyed categories over the past year. Compared to a year ago, gasoline and diesel are up roughly 3.5 times, white rice roughly 2.8 times, corn roughly 1.4 times, and foreign currency roughly 2.3 times. Prices dipped slightly around late January this year before surging again in March.
