SEOUL, June 24 (IANS) Food prices in North Korea have risen above pre-pandemic levels, indicating a shortage of supplies, a US website that monitors the country reported.
Yonhap news agency reported Saturday that 38 North’s report released on Friday added to recent concerns about food shortages in the isolated country, which has faced economic hardship from sanctions and border restrictions imposed on the border with the coronavirus.
“The overall picture indicates that market prices, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting border closures by the North Korean government, have moved to a consistently higher level, indicating that the overall food supply in the country is lower,” the report read. .
It found that the country’s rice and maize prices began to rise in October 2020 after it closed its borders in January of that year to prevent the spread of Covid-19, citing price data compiled by Rimjingang, an online news outlet with sources inside the North. Korea.
“None of this indicates widespread famine in North Korea,” the report said.
“However, the fact that the country is experiencing a huge food shortage seems beyond doubt.”
– Jans
ksk/
