2025 Pyongyang Insights

On September 3, 2025, at the invitation of General Secretary Xi Jinping, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, on a special visit to China, he and 26 heads of state ascended to the Tiananmen Observatory to participate in the celebration of the "80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people in the war against Japan and the world anti-fascist war", becoming the focus of global media attention.

Exactly one year later, I went to Pyongyang again at the invitation of North Korea. I saw new phenomena that had not been discovered a year ago. I couldn't help but record what I saw and heard in Pyongyang. It was really emotional. This time I stayed in Pyongyang for a long time and gave me more opportunities to understand the turning changes in North Korea in recent years. Last year's "What I saw in Pyongyang after the Epidemic" was just a cursory look. Although I was deeply touched, this time I participated in the international academic seminar held by Kim Il Sung University, the exchange content was broader and the experience was deeper.

On August 27, North Korea's Kim Il Sung University resumed holding an international academic seminar that had been suspended for five years due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Although the only countries invited this time were Russia and China, it was enough to qualify as an international academic conference. The theme of the seminar was "Independence and Equality, Region and Development." Scholars such as Moscow State University in Russia, China Academy of Social Sciences, Jilin University, Yanbian University, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Wuhan University, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, and Shanghai University of Political Science and Law were invited to participate. The seminar was divided into two branch venues, social politics and economics and humanities. A total of more than 40 scholars, including teachers from Kim Il Sung University, spoke. North Korean scholars and foreign scholars made cross-speeches, and the discussion was very lively. The speeches of the teachers of Kim Il Sung University appeared to be relatively calm and confident, and their English proficiency won praise from China scholars, indicating that they can be regarded as scholars representing North Korea's top universities.

The survey focuses on the recent life of the Korean people and its changes. The North Korean blockade is not a ¡°lock country¡±, and the changes in the Korean people¡¯s livelihood during this period are beyond my imagination.He was deeply shocked and even surprised by some new changes.

During my visit to the DPRK last year, I briefly mentioned the "prophecy" that the era of private cars will start in 2025. I also heard it at that time, But when I arrived in Pyongyang a year later, I saw yellow car signs on the street (the private car signs in North Korea were yellow).Previously, North Korea's "private cars" were only "gifts" that national athletes could get when they won gold medals in international competitions, or "gifts" that people with special contributions such as work models and English models could get, and in total about 400 vehicles. Today, North Korea¡¯s private cars are private cars in the true sense of what individuals buy, not a ¡°gift¡± from the state.

In Pyongyang, the yellow car number is a private car.

In the past, North Korea¡¯s private property was not highly recognized by the state, because daily life was basically dependent on supply, people¡¯s living conditions were relatively equal, there was no significant difference in poor wealth, this was also the socialist principle of equality of people underlined by North Korean society, there was no difference in poor wealth and noble division. And today the differences in the lives of North Koreans are becoming increasingly obvious. There are big differences between people who are divided into new houses in Pyongyang and those who are unable to divide into new houses, and the difference in life between the people of Pyongyang and the local people is greater.

In January 2024, General Secretary Kim Jong Un, the top leader of North Korea, proposed that in order to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas, the whole country should launch the grand project of "20 x 10 local development" (20 counties will be transformed every year and 200 counties will be transformed within 10 years). Up to now, more than 30 counties have been rebuilt and more than 2,000 villages have been newly built. The lives of local people are gradually improving, but there will be differences between the places that were rebuilt first and those that were rebuilt later. The place to be renovated first should match the standard of three institutions, such as city, county (equivalent to county) hospitals, grain management offices and comprehensive service facilities, on a first-served basis. There will always be different degrees of gap between recognizing differences and narrowing them. These are the "great constructions" invested by the state in a unified way, while private cars are changes brought about by individuals with purchasing power. In the past, there were fears that someone was jealous and someone blamed, but this gap does not hinder the development of society, this time before the launch of the private car market, the state first promulgated the "private car law".

"Private car law" is very valuable to study, here are examples of several provisions to see how North Korea defines the legitimacy of private property "Private car law" is the official name of the "Private Car Use Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" (Adopted by the Supreme People's Congress Standing Committee Decree No. 1759, amended by the Supreme People's Congress Standing Committee Decree No. 1805 of January 28, 2025). There are six chapters 43 which stipulate a series of legalities and rules for the use of private cars. Private cars can only be sold by institutions that have obtained national certification and are sold in designated specialty stores. The sales price is set by the state. Citizens over the age of 18 can buy it, but each family is limited to one car, and active military personnel are not allowed to buy it.

Automotive Technical Services in Pyongyang (아 미 산 자 동 차 기 술 봉 사 소)

Private car buyers must go to the notary office for property notarization. The vehicle registration authority must register and issue license plates to the person who has obtained the car purchase agreement and notarial certificate. At the same time, they must go to the insurance authority to apply for insurance. Private cars are allowed to be transferred between husband and wife or immediate family members, but they cannot be transferred between individuals without permission when dealing with outsiders. They must be sold to state buying agencies, etc. The relevant regulations are very detailed.

Since the promulgation of the "Private Car Law", private cars will be sold in February 2025. As of August (about half a year), more than 2,000 private cars have been on the road. It is said that many people are queuing up to buy a car, but some conditions still need to be met to buy a car, that is, those who have received a driver's license are eligible to buy it. However, to get a driver's license, they must go to a private car driving education institution for 40 days of education, including theory and practice. After passing the exam and getting the diploma, they must apply for a driver's license at a social security institution near the community within 10 days. Of course, there is a fee for the driving training process, and the training needs to be studied in spare time, so it takes a long time to get a driver's license. The "Private Car Law" also stipulates that it is not allowed to be lent to others except immediate family members, let alone used for business or providing paid services to others. Refueling fees, road fees, parking fees, etc. should be paid on time.

Overall, the release of private cars brought the rise of a series of related industries, namely, from private car specialty stores, driving training institutions, publicity offices, insurance agencies, gas stations, parking lots, car washing plants, repair plants, car inspection plants, parts, vehicle management agencies (including illegal regulation and charges), traffic safety departments and other relevant industries and administrative institutions.

The biggest headache at hand is the problem of insufficient parking lots.Although the "Private Car Law" stipulates that a number of parking lots should be built in communities, in addition to state agencies, Pyongyang had almost no social public parking lots, including newly built residential areas, so it will face the problem of temporary parking of private cars. It is said that in the future, new houses will be built with underground parking lots.

At present, the price of private cars is generally around US$13000. Most of them are cars made in China, and there are also electric vehicles. In addition, sales of electric bicycles continue to grow, with about 20,000 vehicles being sold nationwide every year. There are also many new vehicles in operation on subways and buses, and transportation problems have been greatly improved. There are toll stations at all highway intersections, and road conditions are just around the corner.

In North Korea, electric cars are beginning to replace bicycles

In North Korea, the sale of mobile phones is a good business, in addition to students, almost everyone has one, many people have two phones.Because there are two companies providing services for North Korea's communication, one is "Koryo link" ("in the early days, it was operated by Delivery-Olympic Society, that is, a joint venture between North Korea's Delivery Province and Egypt's Orascom Telecom Company, but now it is useless, and Egypt has already withdrawn), and the other is" Qiangsheng ". In fact, these two companies are subsidiaries of the National Delivery Province. At that time, Delivery-Olympic Company was willing to do telecommunications business mainly covered by Pyongyang, and local communication was covered by North Korea's Delivery Province in the name of" Qiangsheng ". Later, after the Egyptian company withdrew, Qiangsheng Company surrounded the city from the local area, gradually entered Pyongyang to build a base station, and Koryo link also went to the local area. However, the current situation is that Koryo link is still a 3G system, and Qiangsheng has upgraded to provide 4G service. Due to the mobile phone number, some people still use 3G service despite the poor quality, and new account openers are willing to use the service of 4G system.

Advertising for Pyongyang Electronics Store (, Future)

In the past two years, North Korea has successively launched the North Korean version of "WeChat" (this description is a metaphor to make it easier for Chinese people to understand), which is called "Jindalai". This system is a 4G service, which can make voice calls, send text and pictures, but it can't send video for the time being. In particular, young people basically rely on this "Jindalai" to communicate, and the elderly still can't keep up with the young people.

In addition, there is a payment system similar to "payment treasure", called "Shipping Electronic Wallet", which has been normalized. The state stipulates that any payment transactions must be made using an electronic wallet.Elderly people are a little unskilled when purchasing things, but if they don't use an electronic wallet to pay, the recipient can report it. In the past, it was very troublesome to find change when paying foreign currency. If there was no change, it would give chewing gum and the like. The payment and payment parties sometimes had unpleasantness. After using electronic money, these problems were solved.

In addition, the first two years just launched the new version of the $50,000 voucher basically does not need to circulate the "plus one function, is the page directly shows the number of money, the blue number on the left is the Korean currency (the Koreans called "domestic currency" - the domestic currency meaning), the right is the red number, is the foreign currency amount (USD). when paying you can arbitrarily choose the currency type, because North Korea many places will also receive foreign currency, such as taxi, telephone fees and so on.

ATMs in Pyongyang ()

The telephone fee can be used in Korean currency, but if you want to use "Kindalay" (Korean version of WeChat), then you have to pay the internet fee.The initial internet fee can be paid in foreign currency, the basic fee is about $1.5 / month, but if you want to watch a movie or play a game such as a bigger traffic video, then it will exceed the basic fee. If there is a fee exceeding the basic fee, you must pay in foreign currencies, foreign currencies can be U.S. dollars or RMB. Korean currencies are only used for basic speech fees, while internet fees and super speech fees are paid in foreign currencies.In general, $ 10 per person per month is basically roughly the same, and for those with a large use, it is about $ 20.

It is worth noting that the speech fee for foreigners is somewhat surprising, and even some "spectacular".Foreigners who already have a North Korean "chip" if they don't use it for three months to stop, to activate it will cost $19, not on the Internet only to call for $70. If you need to access the Internet to open WeChat, it will pay $120 for the network opening fee, the call fee is of course calculated. International call fees are simply unacceptable, a minute 17 yuan, Internet access or use WeChat traffic for only 10 minutes a day (every time you open WeChat only download content, that is, 1-2 minutes, 5-6 times a day). Because of many places the signal is not good, you have to try several times, the connection after speed is very slow, the personality is hard to accept. In Pyongyang Chinese students hardly have access to the Internet, students to stay in contact with the home, get the big hotel to use the wifi environment to

North Korea's Sanxing Electronic Alipay ()

North Korea also has department stores similar to Beijing Yansha. At that time, only Dacheng Department Store in Pyongyang could be called a high-end department store. This time, it was found that more high-end shopping malls than Dacheng Department Store have opened one after another, such as Liujing Jinguang Commercial Center and Lelang Patriotic King Kong Garden.These two business cities are comprehensive service institutions, there are shops, restaurants, cafes, children's parks, swimming pools, gyms, etc., Liu Xiaobo Business Center and hotel rooms. Indeed, as high-end and elegant as Yanzhou stores, the price is simply "surprising", each product price is about 3 to 7 times higher than China, a Chinese shirt is worth $178, the new ultra-thin Huawei 10 inch laptop is worth $2,300, other TV, refrigerator, air conditioning and other electrical devices are at least 2 to 3 times more. It is possible that the international sanctions caused, the goods need to be imported, but there are not many goods for normal customs, electrical appliances can only enter through abnormal channels, the rise in prices is a inevitable phenomenon, and it is surprising that there are a lot of North Koreans consuming.

Ryugyong King Kong Commercial Center in Pyongyang

The restaurant is even more surprising, the high-grade decoration is not said, the variety of dishes is complete, the meals, western meals, daily meals, breakfasts, etc., and the recipes are quite expensive. The deepest impression is the wave of the patriotic King Kong House barbecue, 100g of black beef is priced at $40, though the Koreans eat, there are almost no foreigners to eat. That is because foreign tourists can not travel to North Korea normally. Pyongyang's newly built two-stage residential district has a "Great River Beer House", this 2024 Pyongyang rumor has been described, but this time discovered "New Continent" is built in the third residential district "and Hong Kong".

The ¡°Yong Kong¡± is a high-rise bridge restaurant linked to the 17th floor high-rise of the residence on both sides of the road, looking at the high-rise of the three columns, very atmospheric, very similar to Singapore¡¯s Corridor Kinsha Hotel. Within the two tower columns there are elevators up to the 17th floor, 90 meters long, 10 meters wide, the high-rise space is transparent, luxurious and decorated. The two tower columns have a bow shaped shelf between the two columns, with large clocks hanging in the middle, adding to the luxury of the Korean architecture design. This restaurant was opened on April 25, this year, and it is said that the seats on both sides depended on the location of the windows are not

Pyongyang and Hong Kong

Japanese gourmet dishes, raw fish and barbecue are the main dishes, the price is much cheaper than the "Louvre Patriot King Kong Hall", the 300g black bull is $ 18, this price is also acceptable. French red wine is a must-see, the beautiful red wine cup hits the sound when touching the cup, as if it felt in a high-end restaurant in Europe. The deep impression is that after dinner ice cream, regardless of shape and taste can be called "please".

In fact, these two stores are both "King Kong" stores operated by North Korea's famous KKG club. Everyone in North Korea knows this club as a comprehensive state-owned enterprise, with hotels and restaurants, taxis and shopping malls, and specifically provides services to high-end consumer groups.

Lelang Patriotic King Kong Pavilion in Pyongyang, one of the most exclusive comprehensive shopping malls in North Korea.

August 28th is the youth festival in Korea, this day the youth throughout the country has been through the "revolutionary festival", sporting activities, dancing collective dance is an indispensable program, of course, but not the entertainment life, such as cooking, drinking beer in the hall, etc. This time again discovered another "new continent", is the new beer house opened in the Dawn Street during the epidemic, which opens the horizon, to see the scene atmosphere of the beer house, simply unimaginable scene is in front of the eye.

There is about 500 square meters of empty beer house with the sign of "Peony Shop" hanging on the outer wall. The entrance is actually not conspicuous. The first and second floors are small ordinary shops, and the third floor is this beer house. Many North Koreans know this beer house, which shows that this shop is well-known. When you enter the store, all the young people are full and packed. There are 5-liter draft beer cans on each table. The scene is spectacular. It is said that there are no seats here without reservation in advance. There are three large LED displays hung on the two empty walls, playing TV series from North Korea, China and Russia back and forth, and the music is loud. Surprisingly, young people sang the episode of a series broadcast on the screen while drinking. After a piece of music ended, they clapped and shouted together, followed by another song, drinking and singing all night, and the carnival would be unforgettable tonight. These seem to be associated with the "rock and roll" upsurge in the early days of China's reform and opening up. Young people in North Korea release and relax themselves while singing. The price of draft beer is US $1/bar, which is more affordable for young people compared with US $2.5/bar of Datongjiang Beer No.2 draft beer.

North Korea¡¯s socialist construction, of course, is inseparable from the role and contribution of the youth strike team, including the military builders, Pyongyang and local construction is entirely dependent on the military builders and youth strike team to complete, when the flood occurred in the summer of 2024, the country¡¯s youth strike team used 300,000 times to rebuild the disaster site, creating a ¡°miracle¡± for the construction of a new residential group of more than 20,000 people in less than four months.

The beer shop of Yongxing Peony Store in Pyongyang

Young people accept the new way of life is basically the same in the world, so the future is the world of young people, in North Korea is no exception. What is not much different between North Korea and the world is the gradual increase in the number of elderly people with long-lived lives. Many elderly people in the community gather outside to chat and spend time; the age of marriage for young people has been extended, and it has become normal to have a child after marriage. Therefore, the country is trying every means to allow young people to have more children after marriage. Mothers with many children can become national "heroes". The country has announced that families with many children will be given preferential treatment in the law.

The Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK promulgated the Law on Preferential Treatment for Families with Many Children in August 2024. The law stipulates that families with three children (including adopted children) can enjoy preferential treatment from the state. The parallel Law on the Protection of Women's Rights also stipulates that women who give birth to triplets or more multiple births are equipped with professional doctors to serve them, and enjoy free housing and medicine, food and household goods. Women raising more than two children under the age of 8 can reduce their working hours and take twice as many vacations as others.

The role of young people included the contribution of soldiers, here speaking only of the military victims in the Russian conflict, Secretary-General Kim Jong-un personally attended the commemoration conference, condolences to the families of martyrs who died in overseas military operations, inspired the patriotism of the Korean people throughout the country. In the peace period they went away from his country to the foreign country to fight the heroic sacrifice, many people began not to understand, now the country holds a massive ceremony of meditation for the martyrs who have been sacrificed, has produced a resonance worthwhile for the country's appearance.

In his speech, Secretary-General Kim Jong-un pointed out that he was deeply guilty that every general and soldier who failed to bring their lives back to his homeland, once again forgiving their families, and expressed his deep condolences. Listening to the party's call to the battlefield, the heroism of the country will give the best living conditions for the family of martyrs, and announce the establishment of a martyr monument in the most beautiful tree garden. At the same time, promising to the newly built residential buildings of the family of martyrs, the project has been launched and has been named "New Star Street", and in the near future there will be a grandiose new house entrance ceremony.

North Korea is also known as a "youth power". Young people all over the country are burning their youth in important posts of socialist construction, completing various tasks put forward by the Eighth National Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, and welcoming the victory of the Ninth National Congress with higher fighting spirit.

Liu Xiaobo Commercial Center in Pyongyang

During this trip, I saw the leaping North Korea, the advancing North Korea, the advancing North Korea, and the advancing North Korea. Dare to admit the existing difficulties and some living conditions that lag behind other countries, but are unwilling to lag behind, bravely catch up, and take difficult steps on the road of self-reliance and self-improvement to rejuvenate the country. With a United Korean people and a desperate youth team, there is no reason not to believe that North Korea will have a better tomorrow and look forward to its prosperity and development.

Individuals are optimistic about the future of China-DPRK relations, because the foundations of China-DPRK traditional friendship are solid, inherit the scope of friendship and its breadth, especially in the field of economic cooperation, the role of the Chinese elements. North Korea's self-sufficient economic development line and engaging in the foreign economy do not conflict, North Korea's foreign economy-related laws are relatively sound and operational, as long as the great environment is improved, China's elements (investment, technology, raw materials, etc.) will surely become the east wind of the Korean economy, and the effect of fast-trapping will be undoubted.Of course, the mind does not necessarily have to be overheated. We must act in accordance with economic laws, make good use of legal protection, and establish good close friends with North Korean comrades. North Korea will become a new development stage for China's entrepreneur exhibition.

This article is reproduced from "Northeast Asia Studies Newsletter". The article only represents the author's views and is for readers' reference and analysis.