Pyongyang Bling - The rise of North Korea's consumer comrades

by Irn Bru Thu Jun 04, 2015 11:51 pm

Nail salons, massage parlours, cafes and other signs of consumerism were unheard of in rigidly controlled North Korea just a few years ago, but they are slowly emerging in one of the world's last bastions of Cold War socialism.

North Korea operates a centrally-planned economy modelled on the former Soviet Union where Western-style conspicuous consumption is anathema.

But as a growing middle class of North Koreans earns more money in the unofficial economy, the demand for products such as cosmetics, smartphones, imported fruit juices and foreign clothes is on the rise, according to residents and visitors.

There are now 2.5 million North Korean mobile phone subscribers in a country of 24 million people. Even some state-owned factories are diversifying product lines from rationed daily necessities to meet the demand for non-essential goods.

http://www.msn.com/en-gb/lifestyle/life/pyongyang-bling-the-rise-of-north-koreas-consumer-comrades/ar-BBkERoY?ocid=mailsignoutmd

C'mon comrades. It looks like a great place to holiday. You may be asked to cry uncontrollably on occasions but that's a small price to pay.

Laughing

by Irn Bru Fri Jun 05, 2015 12:19 am

Checked Trip Advisor and it looks good. Couple of minor hicups like athe A/C conditioning and a fridge not working but otherwise positive.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g294444-d306459-Reviews-Koryo_Hotel-Pyongyang.html

Worth a bash in'it?

Smile

Pyongyang Bling - The rise of North Korea's consumer comrades

Pyongyang Bling - The rise of North Korea's consumer comrades

Re: Pyongyang Bling - The rise of North Korea's consumer comrades