Radio Free Asia reports that North Korea will start providing mobile phone services in Pyongyang within the month.

The Washington-based broadcaster cited a Chinese trader in North Korea as saying the North Korean government is currently selling mobile phones for 700 U.S. dollars.

The trader said that cellular service will begin on December tenth in Pyongyang and then later work its way to other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun said an Egyptian telecommunication company, Orascom, is working to set up communication services in Pyongyang, but added that it was unconfirmed whether the services will be up and running on schedule.