Japan’s NHK says economic confusion is mounting in North Korea, with prices having shot up tremendously since a currency reform was implemented late last year.

The Japanese broadcaster on Wednesday held an interview with Pyeonghwa Motors President Park Sang-kwon of South Korea, who recently visited North Korea to monitor efforts regarding a joint auto-assembly project in Nampo on the outskirts of Pyongyang.

According to Park, living conditions have become tougher for the North Korean people due to the doubling or tripling in the prices of rice and other necessities and shortcomings in the supply of goods.

Park said that when he visited the North, he witnessed North Koreans singing a song believed to be one of praise for the third son, Jong-un, of the country's leader Kim Jong-il. Jong-un is reportedly next in line to take over the reigns of the nation.

NHK said Park has close ties with key figures in North Korea, having visited the country 162 times in the past 16 years.