SEOUL, South Korea - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il moved early this month to wipe out much of the wealth earned in the past decade in his country's private markets. As part of a surprise currency revaluation, the government sharply restricted the amount of old bills that could be traded for new and made it illegal for citizens to have more than $40 worth of local currency.

Few days old this story, but i hadn't even got wind of it until today. Must be that excellent English reporting ;]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34599622...shington_post/