Kim Jong Un rediscovers his love of central planning
The dictator is cracking down on North Korea’s small market economy
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THE NORTH KOREAN dictator’s love of high-end products from evil capitalist countries is well documented. The import of luxury goods into North Korea has been banned by UN sanctions since 2006. Yet Kim Jong Un parades around Pyongyang in a million-dollar Maybach car, drinks rare whiskies and has a magnificent yacht moored off Wonsan, a seaside resort whose beaches Donald Trump correctly identified as prime property when the two men held a summit in Singapore three years ago.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Taking back control”
Asia July 3rd 2021
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