North Korea has seen an increase in the sales of notebook computers following the closures of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Daily NK has learned.
A Daily NK source South Pyongan Province reported on Apr. 15 that while sales of electronics at Pyongsong Market – the country’s largest wholesale market – fell from early January to February “sales began to pick up in March.”
Daily NK sources speculated that the increase in sales is due to the fact more students are using computers for education and entertainment at home and because university students are buying computers to prepare for the restart of classes.
Sales of notebook computers in North Korean began from the late 2000s in the Sino-North Korean border region and among residents of Pyongyang.
North Korea began actively cultivating computer experts from around 2010 and now schools and other areas of life in the country reportedly use computers more than ever before.
Notebook computers are popular among young North Koreans because of their portability. The spread of USBs in the country has meant that the computers are increasingly used to watch South Korean dramas and movies. The computers are also used as wedding gifts among North Korea’s wealthy.
Used Chinese-made notebook computers go for around USD 200 to USD 250 at Pyongsong Market. Second-hand South Korean notebooks cost at least USD 600. A two gigabyte USB stick costs KRW 24,000 (around USD 19) while a 16-gigabyte stick costs KRW 108,000 (around USD 88) at the market.
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