World News
Foie gras, puppies, water parks: North Korea gets a glow-up
Key Points
North Korea – a country few would associate with leisure or pleasure – is experiencing an unlikely outbreak of fun. Leader Kim Jong-un, himself no stranger to indulgence, is orchestrating new ways for his citizens to spend their wealth. North Korea’s imports of massage equipment have surged 40-fold over the past decade, according to Chinese customs data.
Coffee bars. Water parks. Retail therapy. North Korea – a country few would associate with leisure or pleasure – is experiencing an unlikely outbreak of fun.
Leader Kim Jong-un, himself no stranger to indulgence, is orchestrating new ways for his citizens to spend their wealth. North Korea’s imports of massage equipment have surged 40-fold over the past decade, according to Chinese customs data. Treadmill shipments jumped over 600 per cent. Pianos and even bumper cars are pouring in, too.
The...