SEOUL/BEIJING – Coffee bars. Waterparks. Retail therapy. North Korea — a country few would associate with leisure or pleasure — is experiencing an unlikely outbreak of fun.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, himself no stranger to indulgence, is orchestrating new ways for his citizens to spend their wealth.
Chinese customs data tells the story: North Korea’s imports of massage equipment have surged 40-fold over the past decade. Treadmill shipments jumped over 600%. Pianos and even bumper cars are pouring in, too.
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