COMMODITY PRICES IN NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003000650002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 30, 2009
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 7, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/03/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003000650002-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
CONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION
PLACE ACQUIRED
Commodity Prices in North Korea
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT I5 TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
to On 5 September 1953 the following commodity prices were in effect in Yonan,l
all prices were in North Korean won:
Commodity
Rice
Millet
Chicken
Swordfish
Mackerel
Liquor, Korean
Caustic soda
Penicillin, powdered
Penicillin, oil
Gold
C
F*
C
Unit2
1 tu3
1 tu3
7 December 1953
Price
600 won
500 won
600 won
1 son (sic) 170 won
1 son 110 won
1 sung 1, 200 won
53 gallons 270,000 won
1 bottle 500 won
1 bottle 1,500 won
1 momme 8,000 won
Approved For Release 2009/03/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003000650002-5
 Approved For Release 2009/03/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003000650002-5
Commodity
Silver
Cloth, cotton
Cloth for western-style suit
Shoes, men's, rubber
Shoes, women's, rubber
Shoes, sport
Socks
Towel
Matches
Lighter flints
Flashlight
Electric bulb
Bicycle, used
Motorcycle
Sewing machine
CONFIDENTIAL
Unit
1 kwan
1 p'il
1 suit
1 pair
1 pair
1 pair
1 pair
2. On 20 September 1953 the following commodity prices
Price
60,000 won
1,200 won
60,000 won
1,700 won
1,200 won
1,800 won
350 won-
400 won
25 won
10 won
1,200 won
600 won
40,000 won
60,000 won
60,000 won
were in effect in Yonan;
all prices were in North Korean won:
Commodity
Unit2
Price
Rice
1 small ma14
600 won
Millet
1 small mal
550 won
Beef
1 mal (sic)5
350 won
Pork
1 mal (sic)5
400 won
Fowl, domestic, large
1,000 won
Shoes, men's, white rubber
1 pair
1,500 won
Hotel lodging, one night with two meals
400 won
Train ticket, Haeju to P'y6ngyang
180 won
Admission fee for movies
30 won
Approved For Release 2009/03/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003000650002-5
 Approved For Release 2009/03/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003000650002-5
3. On 31 September 1953 the following commodity prices were in effect in the
Ch'ongdan (N 37-58, E 126-56) (YC-58o6) area; all prices were in North Korean
won,.
Commodity
Rice
Rice, new crop
Barley
Beans, red
Noodles, iced
Chicken
Beef
Pork
Eggs
Shoes, rubber
Cloth, cotton
Matches
Unit2
1 small mal
1 small mal
1 small mal
1 small mal
1 bowl
1
1 kun
1 kun
10
1 pair
1 p'il
10 packages
Price
750 won
500 won
400 won
1,200 won
40 won
600 won
200 won
150 won
400 won
750-800 won
700 won
250 won
Comment. One small mal is equivalent to 1.03 pecks; one sung is
equivalent to .48 gallon; one momme is equivalent to 3.75 grams; one kwan
is equivalent to 8.265 pounds; one p?il is equivalent to 55 feet; one kun
is equivalent to 21.16 ounces; and one to is equivalent to one large mal
or 2.06 pecks,
Comment. One small mal or one-half of a to was probably intended. 25X1
1 Commen. The price per small mal was 800 North Korean won in Haeju,
and 1,000 won in Pyongyang. Hotel lodging with two meals in Pyongyang
cost 600 won each night.
omment. Possibly 1 kun was intended.
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2009/03/30: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003000650002-5