A civic group campaigning for improved human rights situations in North Korea says the communist state will only allow open-air markets to operate one day each month starting January.

According to the group "Good Friends" Friday, North Korean authorities recently issued the notification, saying the move is aimed at strengthening law and order in the marketplace.

The group said the recent move comes after North Korean authorities restricted the operations of open-air markets in Pyongyang to three times a month starting in October.

Good Friends said the decision apparently reflects the North Korean government’s intention to completely abolish markets.