Recent posts by Chinese social media users in Pyongyang have revealed the widespread sale of foreign and luxury goods in North Korean department stores and restaurants, raising questions about the effectiveness of United Nations sanctions.
A video uploaded to the Xiaohongshu platform on Oct 4 by a user claiming to be involved in North Korea-China trade shows aisles of foreign products at Pyongyang’s Ryugyong Golden Plaza, a shopping mall that opened in July 2023.
The user described the footage as a “real look at Pyongyang’s supermarkets”, highlighting brands such as Huawei, Chanel and SK-II as among the most sought-after in the capital.
The video pans across stalls selling Dior, Adidas and Lancome items, all tagged with North Korea’s signature pink price labels.
Meanwhile, an earlier clip posted on Sept 21 by the same user shows supermarket shelves stocked with Japanese household goods.
Another Xiaohongshu user, claiming to be a student in Pyongyang, posted on Aug 29 a close-up of luxury perfume shelves at the Daesung Department Store.
Another post uploaded on Oct 4 by a Chinese student dining in Pyongyang showed a receipt listing imported beverages, including a bottle of Mexican lager Corona for US$3.40 (RM14.40) and two bottles of Japanese Asahi for US$2.80 (RM11.80) each.
The sale of luxury goods and alcoholic beverages to North Korea violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 2356, which bans such exports.
Nonetheless, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his family have frequently been spotted with luxury items. — The Korea Herald/ANN
