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...
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September 12, 2026 at 5:09 AM
Foie gras, puppies, water parks: North Korea gets a glow-up
SCMP News