Recent reports from North Korea indicate a significant increase in the prices of fruits and vegetables, with some items nearly doubling compared to last year. This surge in food prices is attributed to declining yields due to hot weather conditions and poor pest control. Notable price hikes include spinach, cabbage, peaches, apricots, and plums. The scarcity of cucumbers, eggplants, and chilies has further exacerbated the situation, allowing sellers to charge higher prices. The rising production costs is largely due to unusual weather conditions such as heat waves, droughts, and floods, which have negatively impacted crop production in the country.