The New York Times says economic life in North Korea has changed significantly since market reforms in 2002 undid many tenets of the communist system, that banned or limited private commerce and property.

A Times article said Monday that North Korean farmers can now take over fallow land and keep profits earned from selling produce grown there in markets.

The changes are more noticeable in cities, with people being allowed to trade goods for profit in newly-created public markets, including 38 in the capital of Pyongyang.

The markets sell everything from clothing and bicycles to televisions and refrigerators, mostly imported from China.