Tag: wealthy
Smartphone apps widen North Korea’s education gap
North Korean students in some regions are increasingly turning to smartphone apps to study English and Chinese in 2026. The trend is widening an...
Apartment prices fall in one of Pyongyang’s newest districts
Apartment prices in one of Pyongyang's newer housing districts have fallen from about $70,000 to roughly $60,000, and sales have slowed sharply, as a...
North Korea’s wealthy still crave South Korean cosmetics despite crackdown
Demand for South Korean cosmetics among North Korea's wealthy elite shows no sign of slowing, and smugglers have begun repackaging the products into Chinese...
Pyongyang busts luxury smuggling ring selling to elite wives
A special task force in Pyongyang has arrested the manager of a foreign currency store and a trade official accused of smuggling luxury brands...
Hyesan school shifts cooking exam costs to students
A technical senior middle school* in Hyesan, Ryanggang province, is drawing parent complaints over a new requirement. Students in its hotel cuisine class had...
North Korean beauty salons, saunas embrace premium services
North Korean beauty salons and sauna houses are increasingly rebranding themselves as premium service providers in 2026, bundling haircuts, massages, skin care treatments and...
Behind Sinuiju’s brighter nights, a widening electricity divide
Electricity supply in Sinuiju, North Pyongan province, has improved somewhat in 2026 compared with last year. Neighborhoods near provincial and city party offices, the...
Zeekr electric vehicles and luxury used cars on display as sales...
North Korean authorities launched a large-scale car exhibition in Pyongyang in June 2026 while simultaneously ordering the Ministry of Social Security to covertly investigate...
North Korea’s showcase coastal resort is turning into a symbol of...
Interest in North Korea's Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone is rising sharply ahead of the summer season in 2026, with word-of-mouth praise from visitors...
Kim family fashion drives custom tailoring boom among North Korea’s wealthy...
Wealthy North Koreans are commissioning custom-tailored suits modeled on the outfits worn by Ri Sol Ju and Kim Ju Ae at official state appearances...
