A civic group promoting human rights in North Korea says the cost of rice is rising in the North, noting also that food shortages tend to occur there in the spring.

The Good Friends said Thursday the price of North Korean rice rose to 16-hundred North Korean won per kilogram early this month, rising more than 20 percent from where it stood late last month.

The group said the price of rice in other regions including Hamheung Province also rose by 200 won.

The civic group mentioned rumors that if the food shortage becomes severe, many people will starve to death.