North Korea has stepped up foreign currency earning operations in North Pyongan province as a processed goods push gains ground. Raw materials procurement officers are fanning out across multiple counties this April. They are collecting over 40 categories of natural products for export. The collection list includes wild mountain vegetables currently in season. Aralia shoots, aster greens, and bracken fern are among the targets. Medicinal plants with reduced collection in recent years have also returned to the list. Wild ginger root, honeysuckle flower, mugwort, and Chinese yam appear prominently. Evening primrose seeds and acacia flower seeds complete the plant categories. Medicinal creatures such as leeches, centipedes, and pill bugs are also in significant demand.
This processed goods push marks a departure from previous collection methods. Procurement officers are not simply gathering raw materials as before. They are assessing how much of each item can be secured reliably. They are also evaluating whether each item can undergo processing locally. Consequently, they are running both collection and processing activities together.
North Korean authorities have long pushed trading companies to move away from raw material exports. The policy directive has repeatedly fallen short at the operational level. Aging equipment and insufficient technical capacity were the main obstacles. However, this processed goods push is showing different results on the ground. Procurement officers are now taking a more systematic approach to the work.
The officers are absorbing materials organized through workplaces and schools. They are also collecting individually gathered supplies coming through local markets. The processing operations include drying, pickling, powdering, and packaging. These steps transform raw items into finished products before export. Therefore, the processed goods push is finally gaining traction after years of poor implementation.
The source stated that the state has given instructions for a long time. North Korea wanted to stop selling raw materials in their natural state. Instead, authorities wanted to make processed goods for export markets. Implementation in the field was poor for many years. Now results are starting to appear one by one. Even if the scale remains small, the variety has clearly increased. The fact that procurement officers have become this busy is proof. The processed goods push is taking off in earnest across the province.
Foreign currency earning bases in Jongju city, Kwaksan county, and Unjon county received new collection quotas. These quotas cover the more than 40 product categories mentioned. Raw materials procurement officers have become noticeably more active as a result. They are mapping supply chains directly to processing units. This systematic approach differs from previous uncoordinated efforts. The processed goods push may continue expanding if initial exports prove profitable. Future collection rounds could include even more product categories. International buyers will determine whether the quality meets market standards. For now, North Korean officers remain busy securing and processing natural goods.
