◆ Black Market Trade in Travel Coupons Flourishes... Real-Name Registration System Introduced
Among the wealthy, these travel coupons appear to hold real appeal and value. As evidence, the reporting partner noted: "A lot of them are circulating on the black market, and when someone is short on cash, a coupon can be used as a form of personal credit to settle a debt."
To curb this black market trade, a real-name registration system has been introduced. The reporting partner said: "Coupons now require the buyer's name, phone number, and citizen registration card number to be written on them."
Over the past decade or so, the Kim Jong-un regime has spent lavishly on tourist development. While there is some possibility of attracting Chinese tourists beginning this year, the move also appears designed to draw spending from the domestic wealthy class — both to recoup investment and operating costs, and to advertise the regime's promotion of public welfare.
※ ASIAPRESS communicates with its reporting partners through Chinese cell phones smuggled into North Korea.
