North Korea’s lifting of restrictions on domestic travel has led to rising demand for wheeled suitcases, but potential buyers are finding that the suitcases are not available in local markets.
Speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, a source in South Hamgyong Province told Daily NK on Tuesday that “as of late, more and more people are seeking out wheeled suitcases, but sellers aren’t able to stock the suitcases because they’re not available anywhere. There have been no imports [of the suitcases] from China since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has been over a year since supplies of the suitcases have dried up.”
He added: “Items that became difficult to import were generally replaced with domestic products, but North Korean companies aren’t producing any wheeled suitcases, so there is nothing to buy and sell. I’m not sure why [wheeled suitcases are not produced domestically].”
Increase in travel leads to surging demand
As recently as last year, there were few consumers seeking out wheeled suitcases in local markets.
As the COVID-19 crisis has abated, however, there has been an increase in the number of officials and ordinary people who are travelling to cities such as Pyongyang for political events and business trips. This increase in travel has naturally led to a gradual rise in demand for wheeled suitcases.
The source explained that people find wheeled suitcases convenient because of their high capacity and mobility, and that they are sought out for travel and business trips because they can be locked with a secret code.
Potential buyers, however, are unable to find wheeled suitcases at markets due to the lack of supply.
Prior to the pandemic, the suitcases were distributed wholesale in Hamhung and other major cities near the China-North Korea border. However, these products were expensive, generally ranging between RMB 300 and 1,000 (around USD 41 to 137). Moreover, since the wheeled bags were not big sellers, wholesalers only obtained as many as they thought they would be able to sell.
There was never a particularly large supply of wheeled suitcases in North Korea in the first place, and with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the country’s borders, it only became harder to find the suitcases at local markets.
The source told Daily NK that it is now impossible to find the wheeled suitcases at all.
No wheeled suitcases anywhere
There are no wheeled suitcases available for purchase in markets in Hyesan, either, according to a source in Yanggang Province.
“No wheeled suitcases are available in Hyesan, so you can’t buy them even if you want to. Before COVID-19, they used to say that there was nothing you couldn’t find in the markets, but that isn’t the case anymore.”
According to the source, a Hyesan resident went to a local market in search of a wheeled suitcase last month after hearing that a relative living in Pyongyang had been hospitalized. After walking around the entire market, the individual was unable to find any wheeled suitcases.
Unhappy at the thought of having to carry around heavy items without a wheeled suitcase, the Hyesan resident ultimately called all their neighbors who might have the suitcases and was eventually able to borrow one.
“Some private smugglers have already placed orders with Chinese traders to bring in items currently unavailable in the markets, so [low-supply items like suitcases] will be ready to hit the markets as soon as the border reopens,” the source said. “Right now, some people are inconvenienced by being unable to acquire items they need, but this problem seems like it will be resolved soon enough.”
Translated by Matthew Eteuati, Jr. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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