Pork prices near record 160,000 won per kilogram in North Korea

Pork has skyrocketed in price in North Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, reaching record levels of 160,000 won per kilogram in the capital city of Pyongyang, according to a recent survey by Daily NK. The survey, which tracks market prices across three provinces, found pork prices in Pyongyang, Sinuiju, and Hyesan to be 159,000, 158,100, and 159,200 won respectively on August 30th.

This represents an astounding 12-fold increase from the 2018 average price of just 13,277 won per kilogram in Pyongyang. The primary cause of the price surge is African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious viral disease that first emerged in North Korea in 2019. The outbreak led to massive pig deaths, including at the Buksang Cooperative Farm in Usi county, where 77 pigs died, and the remaining 22 were destroyed.

ASF subsequently spread nationwide, decimating both state-owned and private pig farms. Prior to the outbreak, many North Korean families kept pigs at home to supplement their income, but household pig farming is now extremely rare even in rural areas. The astronomical pork prices, which equate to enough rice or corn for 3.5 or 9 kilograms respectively, have made the meat virtually unaffordable for most ordinary citizens.

As a result, many now opt for cheaper chicken or duck during celebrations, or resort to soy-based imitation meat when pork is simply too expensive. North Korea tightly restricts private consumption of beef, further limiting meat options for most families. Cho Chung-hee, director of Daily NK's research institute, stated that pig numbers have plummeted since the 2019 ASF outbreak and have yet to fully recover.

He emphasized that ASF is now endemic in North Korea, meaning outbreaks could recur at any time. Restoring the pig farming industry would require improved breeding stock, better disinfection and quarantine systems, and expanded grain feed supplies, though the grain shortage presents a significant challenge. Daily NK, which operates inside North Korea and reports real-time events to the outside world, highlights how the pork price crisis has narrowed the range of meats available to ordinary households and could have long-term implications for food security in the country.