As frigid temperatures descend on the Korean Peninsula over the winter, cross-border smugglers are being kept busy trying to meet growing demand for heating devices and solar panels in North Korea, sources in North Pyongan Province report.
“Generally speaking, smuggling drops off somewhat during the winter and it’s also increasingly difficult to get things in on account of crackdowns on both sides of the border. But that hasn’t affected the demand for space heaters and electric blankets, so smugglers are finding solutions,” a source in North Pyongan Province told Daily NK on December 14.
Solar panels are also popular, he added, particularly smaller ones (roughly 40 x 60 cm) which can be used to charge heating devices.
Chronic power shortages are a perennial issue, but following the harvest season the power supply typically becomes more sporadic and unreliable. This has the effect of driving up demand for alternative sources of power and heating, resulting in tempting profits to be made for smugglers willing to take the risk.
“A 50W solar panel can power a small LED light or electric blanket for 3-5 hours. The winters here are incredibly harsh and people consider these items vital to make it through, even though they’re so expensive,” a separate source in North Pyongan Province reported.
A 50W solar panel currently sells for 300 RMB in North Korea’s general markets.
