North Korean media showcased greenhouse-grown 'golden watermelons' and popcorn and jelly on store shelves, Kyunghyang reported. But analysts noted whether such displays translate into ordinary residents' actual purchases is another matter.

There can be a gap between goods highlighted for propaganda and ordinary people's lives. Price, supply and distribution structures must be viewed together to gauge whether shelf abundance reaches real tables.

Greenhouse farming reduces seasonal and climate constraints to supply fresh produce. But it incurs energy and material costs, so the breadth and durability of supply hinge on resource conditions.

This paper reports on North Korea on the facts, without assertion or exaggeration. As Korean Peninsula affairs are not unrelated to Chinese society in Korea, we will convey them with a balanced view.