Now and then, on business, he went to Canada-ostensibly to sound out projects that might bring in some desperately scarce foreign currency.
The increase resulted in part, however, from imports paid for with scarce foreign currency.
North Korea has been trying to expand tourism as one source of scarce foreign currency.
The rate goes up on the infrequent occasions when a guest star, who has to be paid in a scarce foreign currency, appears.
Steel production accounts for 7 percent of Russia's gross national product, and is a huge source of scarce hard currency.
Romania must now use scarce hard currency to import all its birth-control devices.
The government had to use scarce foreign currency to import food.
Tighter financial sanctions could further deprive North Korea of already scarce hard currency.
A great deal of the problem, however, is in paying for the equipment with scarce hard currency.
The indictment describes how some 30,000 people worked under him and how scarce hard currency was made available to support the program.