SEOUL: Consumers in North Korea’s capital this week have been “panic buying” food staples, causing some store shelves to empty, according to a news service that specializes in the country.
The purchases may be due to stricter coronavirus measures on the way for Pyongyang and don’t appear related to reports this week that leader Kim Jong Un may be seriously ill, NK News reported, citing people who live in Pyongyang and were able to communicate outside the country. Shortages were initially limited to imported fruit and vegetables and then moved on to other goods, it said.
Radio Free Asia also reported last week that the prices of food staples in North Korea were rising sharply because of panic buying.
North Korea closed its borders in January when coronavirus cases in neighboring China began to skyrocket. Kim’s regime has said i
