Motorcycles, once a symbol of privilege for a North Korean man, are becoming an indispensable tool in the growth of the country’s market economy.

Speaking with Daily NK on the 29th about the dynamic process of North Korea’s marketization, a Sinuiju source commented, “Motorcycles are being used to facilitate the circulation of goods, and are one thing a lot of men particularly want to own.” 

“A motorcycle used to represent a man’s wealth, power, and style,” the source recalled. “But these days it’s just a way of making a living. Although the authorities control and regulate them, the number of people riding motorcycles keeps growing.”

According to sources, the North Korean authorities subcategorize motorcycles into small, scooter-type (125cc or less), mid-size (up to 250cc) and large (up to 400cc). The preferred type among today’s market participants is of the second type. Overwhelmingly Chinese in origin, these sell new for $900-$1000, but second-hand ones can be obtained for $700 or less depending on condition.

Corruption is prevalent in North Korea, and as a result bribery is required to obtain a license and registration plate from the Traffic Division of the Ministry of People’s Security. Another common route is to buy fake documentation; this is often cheaper than bribing the relevant gatekeepers. A driving test for motorcycles also exists, the source explained, but this is rarely enforced, especially in provincial areas.

As is the case for so-called “quick service” providers in South Korea and other motorcycle-based delivery systems worldwide, motorcycles allow for rapid movement of goods and services between and within markets in North Korea. Compared with trains, buses, and even private cars, they also make it easier to evade patrols and checks, and to travel at night.

“Wives are buying their husbands motorcycles because they now believe ‘time is money,’” the source explained. “And where once the men might have ridden them rather ostentatiously, now they know the joy of earning money and are actively using them to take part in market activities.”

This trend indicates a new shift in the concept of the “husband.” Since the beginning of the marketization period in the 1990s, responsibility for making money has fallen predominantly on women, who were not prohibited from participating in market activities. This led to the declining authority of men in many cases. However, with the increasing role of men in the market structure in the last few years, this has begun to shift once more.