North Korea’s society and economy are changing. Grassroots moves towards marketization in the country has led to its permeation with all kinds of products from the outside world. The residents of Pyongyang, the most prosperous part of the country, have an increasing ability to purchase goods that we are familiar with in our everyday lives. Throughout my visits to North Korea, I’ve discovered a number of items in various shops and stores (some for foreigners and some for locals) that I was really surprised to see. Here are some we were able to photograph!
1.Nescafe Gold!
2. Fanta and Sprite!Obey your thirst (and the great leader!)
3. Mentos
4. KitKat and Twix!
Take a break, in North Korea!
5. Mr Muscle
Loves the (State allocated) jobs you hate
6. Ribena
How they got here, brand new, remains a mystery!
7. Roses (and look above.. Reeses!)
So what does this tell us about Pyongyang? It tells us it’s an increasingly modern city and it is one which is not as isolated or reclusive as some imagine it to be. Although it is ahead of the rest of the country, it shows you that globalization penetrates everything, even North Korea! A visit will certainly seem surprising.
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