North Korea restricts market trading

North Korea has clamped down on fast-growing free markets for fear they could undermine the communist state's power over its people, analysts and observers say.
The regime in late November banned general markets which sell consumer goods from early next year. It severely restricted the operations of food stalls, according to the Daily NK web newspaper and other analysts.
The food markets known as "jangmadang," some of which currently open daily, will be allowed to operate just three times a month and to sell only vegetables and certain other farm products.
Staples such as rice and corn will be sold only at state distribution centres.
The Seoul-based Institute for Far Eastern Studies predicted the curbs would prove unenforceable and said in a commentary they could spark rioting.
In March thousands of women started a rare street protest in the northeastern city of Chongjin against a clampdown on street vendors and hawkers, mostly women chasing a little extra money to buy food.