North Korean Capital Sees 'Panic Buying' of Food, NK News Says

[TexasTowelie]

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 it has no confirmed infections from the virus but the U.S. is “fairly certain” it has cases because of a noticeable lack of military activity, General Robert Abrams, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, told reporters in a teleconference briefing in March.

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/north-korean-capital-sees-panic-buying-of-food-nk-news-says

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. How could they tell?

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.

Aren't empty shelves the usual condition?

[Iliyah]

2. Sounds like a virus . . .