The government says North Korea is increasing the number of stores that sell daily necessities in order to help ease public outrage that was sparked by Pyongyang's recent currency reform.

Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-ho told KBS Radio on Monday that the North Korean people are confused, as authorities have yet to announce new price levels for food or wages following its currency reform conducted earlier this month.

Hong added that the issue of a wage hike for North Korean workers at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex could be discussed but that raising land-use fees for the industrial park would be inappropriate.

He made the remarks after being asked about the possibility of the North asking the South for such raises after a group of South and North Korean officials return home on Tuesday after conducting joint inspections of industrial complexes in China and Vietnam.