North Korea's Food Prices Soar Amid Enormous Inflation
A large-scale price survey conducted by ASIAPRESS in four locations across northern North Korea has revealed significant price surges in food and foodstuffs. The survey, which took place in May and June of this year, found that the cost of white rice has increased 588% since January 2023, with prices reaching as high as 38,500 won per kilogram. This is equivalent to a month's wages for an average worker at a North Korean state-owned enterprise.
The survey also reported that corn prices have surged by 359%, with prices doubling within three months in August. The cost of transporting grain from breadbasket regions such as Hwanghae Province affects prices, resulting in variations across different regions. Despite wages being raised more than tenfold nationwide in December 2023, they have remained frozen ever since.
ASIAPRESS conducted the survey to assess the current state of the North Korean economy through concrete data. The organization held a seminar in Seoul, South Korea on June 24, 2026, to release the results of the large-scale price survey. About 150 people attended, including researchers, journalists, and members of the public.