A United Nations report says for the first time in three years, North Korea's economy grew in 2019 despite international sanctions.
According to the report released on Thursday, the North's estimated gross domestic product rose 1.8 percent last year in contrast to a decline in 2018 and 2017 by 4.2 and 3.5 percent, respectively.
The report did not specify what contributed to the growth but forecast even further growth of 2.2 percent in 2020 and 2.8 percent in 2021.
It also said the North's consumer price inflation is estimated to have jumped 4.8 percent last year, exceeding the growth rate of GDP.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
