North Korea’s regime has recently made luxury blankets available to Pyongyang residents, following an earlier distribution of seafood – moves apparently aimed at reinforcing citizens’ loyalty.<\/p>\n
According to a source in Pyongyang recently, the city began selling premium bedding materials to residents on Dec. 16. Sales started in the capital’s Central District, with blankets produced at the prestigious Kim Jong Suk Pyongyang Silk Mill.<\/p>\n
For several months, Pyongyang has collaborated with local silk mills to produce winter bedding. The latest blankets feature thermal materials that are both thick and lightweight, with breathable qualities making them suitable for spring and fall use as well.<\/p>\n
These premium blankets, known for their exquisite embroidery, have historically been rare in North Korean markets. Their exceptional quality is immediately visible, according to the source, leading many Pyongyang residents to consider them worth going into debt for.<\/p>\n
However, the prices are steep. A basic set including a blanket, futon, and pillows costs 210,000 North Korean won, while the luxury version runs 780,000 won. One city resident who received a ration voucher left the bedding store empty-handed, lamenting, “The blankets look so warm and luxurious that I’d buy several sets and replace my old ones if I could afford it. But they were simply too expensive.”<\/p>\n
Wealthier North Koreans are buying extra ration vouchers from those who can’t afford the bedding, using additional sets for marriage preparations or as wedding gifts for their children. Many buyers are also reselling the sets at a profit in local markets.<\/p>\n
The bedding’s quality is so exceptional that even Pyongyang’s privileged citizens rarely encounter such items. Resellers can earn a 20% margin, with the standard set fetching 250,000-260,000 won and the luxury set commanding 880,000 won in Pyongyang’s marketplaces.<\/p>\n
“It’s remarkable to see such high-quality products being sold by the state,” the source noted. “While the price is certainly a barrier, purchasing a set can still be advantageous since you can profit from reselling it in the market.”<\/p>\n