North Korea halts state smuggling ahead of party congress

2026-02-19 - 00:33

North Korean authorities suspended state smuggling across North Pyongan, North Hamgyong and Jagang provinces in early February, ahead of the Ninth Party Congress scheduled for the end of the month, raising fears the crackdown will disrupt consumer goods supplies and push up market prices. According to a Daily NK source in North Pyongan province who requested anonymity for security reasons... Source