The official website. They even have a shop.
Sounds about right.
My first reaction was: what the hell do they have to sell?
My second reaction was that they could actually do some decent business from Westerners looking for comedy items. Who wouldn’t want a North Korean karaoke CD? I think my secret Santa gift is sorted for next Christmas…
Wow - the website almost makes NKorea look like a nice place! I especially like this part under Juche Ideology:
Altho it kinda misses the part about starvation among the people and the tons of food aid that are sent every year… The assorted rhetoric would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic.
Lotsa important stuff like DVDs, flags and water bottles.
Where do you think they get their foreign exchange?
I noticed they have 13 variations of each water bottle shape, numbered Propaganda 1, Propaganda 2, etc. They differ only in the graphic design of the decal. Show respect for the Glorious People’s Revolution and collect 'em all!
I wonder how much of the money from the sales goes directly into Lil Kim’s pockets??
The starving peasants are told that this food is being sent “in tribute” to the current Dear/Great/Whatever leader, much as tributes were sent to kings in days of old.
No Nodongs?
I strongly suggest that you do not use your credit card on that site!
They also have a CafePress storefront: Gifts - CafePress
Is it even legal for Americans to buy any of this?
Yep. Unlike Cuba, it is legal to visit North Korea and there is not a comprehensive economic embargo. There are some restrictions, but they’re mostly on selling certain goods to them, not buying them from them.
If you ordered something from them, would it arrive via UPS or by a uniformed representative of the Dear One?
Representative? The Glorious Poobah himself flies around the Earth twice a day and hand delivers all NK goods, just for a light workout after meals.
I liked some of the artwork and it will probably have some value in 20-30 years, and I especially liked they named the art Propaganda 1, Propaganda 2, etc.
The pictures look like what they used to produce back in the old DDR (East Germany) days - all the happy populace gathering together for military parades and children’s concerts…I know from East Germans they were required to attend these kinds of events and let’s just say few of them eagerly went there with smiles on their faces.
He invented home delivery, didn’t he? Was that before or after the wheel and fire?
[noparse]www.cracked.com[/noparse] treated this subject.
“6 Reasons North Korea is the Funniest Evil Dictatorship Ever” by Lola C., March 22, 2009.