◆ Fuel Prices Hit All-Time High
As the Iran crisis intensifies, fuel prices have been surging worldwide. How directly related this is remains unclear, but fuel prices in North Korea have also been spiking.
According to a price survey conducted by ASIAPRESS on April 10, gasoline was selling for 74,500 North Korean won (1.18 USD) per liter, and diesel for 70,500 North Korean won (1.12 USD) per liter — both all-time highs. In a survey conducted on February 27, the day before the attack on Iran, gasoline was 41,000 North Korean won (0.98 USD) and diesel was 39,000 North Korean won (0.93 USD), meaning both have risen by more than 80%.
※ Exchange rates reflect the rate at the time of each survey.
The turmoil in the Middle East, which began with the U.S. and Israeli killing of Iran's supreme leadership, is inevitably having a major impact on North Korea as well. How the Kim Jong-un regime will respond — and what the effects will be for ordinary North Koreans — will need to be watched closely going forward.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
