North Korea issues coupons instead of cash

Experts say closing of Chinese border due to Covid-19 may have halted banknote production

north-korean-won

The North Korean central bank is printing coupons in place of standard banknotes to remedy a shortage of cash, according to media reports.

These coupons, known as tonpyo or donpyo, may reflect Covid-related supply chain disruptions, but have appeared amid more general economic distress in the isolated country.

The coupons began circulating towards the end of August, according to reports in Japan’s Asia Press, which provides independent reporting on North Korea. Each coupon is worth 5,000 North

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