Food Prices Rising in North Korea
Current Prices in DPRK
Price research conducted by Life Funds for North Korean Refugees
Surveyed: Morning of June 12, 2011
Data Released: 13th June
Research in Onsong and Chonjin North Hamgyong Province
Food Price List for DPRK
Unit: North Korean Won (KPW)
Item |
In Onsong |
In Chonjin |
Remarks |
|
Rice DPRK domestic |
1,700 |
2,000 |
per Kg |
|
Imported rice |
― |
2,000 |
per Kg |
|
Sticky Rice |
1,800 |
2,100 |
per Kg |
|
Corn |
900 |
900～950 |
per Kg |
|
Wheat Flour |
1,700 |
1,400 |
per Kg |
|
Chicken egg |
250 |
380～450 |
per EGG |
|
Potato |
600 |
500 |
per Kg |
|
Soybean oil |
4,800 |
4,600 |
per LITER |
|
Soybean |
1,400 |
1,600～1,700 |
per Kg |
|
Pork |
4,500 |
5,500～6,000 |
per Kg |
|
Chicken |
― |
10,000～15,000 |
per CHICKEN |
|
Salt |
700 |
450 |
per Kg |
|
RMB100 |
40,000 |
41,000 |
|
|
US$ 100 |
265,000 |
266,500 |
Here, for your reference, are comparison prices from November 2010.
|
Item |
Musan |
Haeryon |
|
Rice |
980 KPW/kg |
950 KPW/kg |
|
Soybean |
500 KPW/kg |
550 KPW/kg |
|
Wheat Flower |
950 KPW/kg |
950 KPW/kg |
|
Soybean oil |
2,800 KPW/kg |
3,000 KPW/kg |
|
Chicken |
2,500 KPW |
2,700 KPW |
|
Corn |
550 KPW/kg |
500 KPW/kg |
|
Potato |
250 KPW/kg |
300 KPW/kg |
|
Pork |
3,000 KPW/kg |
2,500 KPW/kg |
Some families have stockpiled food at home for their own use. But many others, who have no food reserves, have turned to high-interest usurers who can be found around the local marketplaces. Interest rates run 200%, with every 10 kilograms of rice borrowed being repaid with 20 kilograms following harvest.
North Korea’s current social climate appears to be growing more volatile, as well, with local politians fanning the people’s resentment of the South. The latest complaint is the use by South Korean troops of Kim Jong-il’s portrait for target practice. The North has not yet been placed on a wartime alert, but the people are increasingly expecting something to happen.
Comparing Crop Yields
Last year LFNKR supplied 500 kg of seed corn (both Chinese and American varieties) to a cooperative farm as well as individual farmers in North Hamgyong, and to another cooperative farm and individual farmers in South Hamgyong.
The North Hamgyong farm planted the Chinese and American corn in a 5 hectare field and tracked the results. Seed corn procured domestically in North Korea produced 2,500 kg per hectare. In contrast, the Chinese corn yielded 4,000 kg per hectare, and the American corn yielded 5,000 kg per hectare.
Unfortunately, the South Hamgyong farm only received enough seed to plant a 3 hectare area, but they are hoping to receive more seeds next year. The harvests at these farms are markedly higher than those of surrounding farms, which planted only domestic seed corn and produced scanty crops.