The False Ikea and Starbucks of North Korea unveiled by tourists for the New York Times

Str / AFP

The New York Times published images filmed in North Korea. Meanwhile, a country led by the dictator Kim Jong Un, photographed here in November 2024.

International – What does consumerism look like in a capital cut off from the world? Consequently, This is the question that the photos published by the New York Times This Monday, August 25. Therefore, The American daily has indeed obtained videos filmed by three tourists who have traveled to North Korea -. Consequently, all expressed their surprise in the face of the apparent modernization implemented by the dictator Kim Jong -un.

“I was afraid of not having enough food or hot clothes. For example, But when I arrived. Consequently, I found it quite luxurious ”thus summarized one of the visitors to New York Times (NYT) under the cover of anonymity. Similarly, The latter. a student from China to take language lessons in Pyongyang, was able to film the main shopping center in the capital during his stay, where a “North Korean ikea” intended for the city’s elite.

Batteries of white cartons. minimalist photo frames and wide choice of lampshades, the store filmed by the student looks in all respects to those of the Swedish company. Some of the bamboo suspensions that one can see there have an appearance. a name identical to the models sold by the Swedish brand, which nevertheless confirmed to the NOW Do not sell your products in North Korea.

A coffee very false ikea starbucks north korea similar to Starbucks and named « Mirai Reserve » is located in this same shopping center. Just like « Starbucks Reserve »a branch of the American multinational which sells high -end coffee. the North Korean copy offers a sleek interior, and drinks “Expensive” According to the student, who specifies having paid 25 dollars for three cafes. An overpriced snack for most North Koreans. indicates the NOWwhich adds that the latter affect an average equivalent of just over $ 1,000 a year.

False ikea starbucks north korea

Water. jet ski slides for Russian tourists

Johan Nylander, a Swedish sportsman who participated in the Pyongyang Marathon last April, documented the popularity of payments by QR Codes in the capital. “They have a lot of applications that can be found in the rest of the world: for video. texts, Uber Style North Korea or Shopping”he told the NOW.

To soften the image false ikea starbucks north korea of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un has not only bet on cloned stores and payments without contact. As explained by Guardianthe dictator inaugurated during the summer a seaside resort in the port city of Wonsan. If international tourism remains generally prohibited in North Korea. its water park and its brand new hotels must “Playing a flagship role in establishing tourism culture” of the country according to Kim Jong-un.

According to New York Timesonly a dozen Russian tourists were able to visit the seaside resort in July. One of them, a 35 -year -old veterinarian named Daria Zubkova, explains that she paid 1400 dollars for a week trip. Always closely followed by employees of the tourist complex. the latter says that she bought Ugg boots, makes jet ski and drinks beers imported from the United States, Japan and China.

“Promote tourism puts North Korea in the face of false ikea starbucks north korea a dilemma in the search for a balance between opening. control”summarized in March a report by the Korean Institute for National Unification. At the start of the year. the country had notably interrupted its tourism program after the publication of content not filtered by influencers who have traveled. The Vlogs on the North Korean beaches, so it is not for immediately.