I have been doing business in North Korea for 12 years, and I was accompanied by three North Koreans when I went out.

Original: Diqing Earth Youth Picture Book

△ Zhao Bin participated in the 16th Pyongyang International Film Festival.

Twelve years ago, Zhao Bin, a native of Shenyang, began to engage in Sino-Korean trade. He traveled between Liaoning and North Korea, doing business in used computers, clothing, building materials, etc., and thus gained a deeper understanding of North Korea.

The following is Zhao Bin’s self-report.

△ North Korean street

I first traveled to North Korea in 2003, when I was still in college, and I went there just out of curiosity. I’m from Liaoning, and I’m close to North Korea, so I’ll go and have a look. At that time, North Korea was still in the period of suffering March (Korean famine), the economy was relatively difficult, the power supply was tight, there were no lights at night, and even Pyongyang was dark at night. As I went to North Korea again and again in the later period, the power supply was more adequate.

△ Pyongyang subway station

When I was traveling in North Korea in the early days, I had some observations and thought I could do trade, so I naturally started to do it later. It’s not easy for Chinese to go to North Korea to do trade. If he doesn’t know people in North Korea and doesn’t understand the situation in North Korea, it’s still difficult to achieve. He needs someone to bring him to join the trade. I also found a relationship at first.

Not everyone in North Korea can do business, but all clubs (trade clubs under the army or state-owned enterprises) or trade representatives do foreign trade. North Korea is allowed to do business in the name of clubs, and the staff of trade clubs can get rewards and rewards from the state if they want to complete sales or production tasks. Many North Korean staff lived in China in those years.

Go to North Korea for gold

△ I visited Pyongyang No.1 Middle School, and students used laptops in class.

When I was a child, I remember that some people sent a lot of old TVs to North Korea. Probably in the early 1990s, when it was a big old TV set, it was not ultra-thin. In 2007, I saw someone buying a large number of laptops in Shenyang computer market. I was curious about how so many laptops were bought. The store told me that they were sold to North Korea. Because first-hand computers are too expensive for Koreans, many computers sold in many North Korean shopping malls are old.

△ Overlooking Pyongyang

I started looking for people with Korean relations, and I started slowly. I transported the recovered used computers from Dandong to North Korea by truck through an international freight company, and wrote down the contact information of the recipient of the DPRK. Trucks can be transported across the border, and trains can also be transported through international transport. At that time, North Korea did not have so many international sanctions, and trucks ran every day.

△ North Korean street

Trade is ever-changing and all-encompassing. We will do whatever North Korea needs, bit by bit, from small to big, and with the expansion of contacts, we will know more and more partners.

△ Pyongyang Dacheng Clothing Factory

Second-hand household appliances and clothing have had trade peaks in North Korea. After reselling used computers, I went on to do clothing trade. Xiliu Wholesale Market in Liaoning and Wuai Market in Shenyang are very famous in Northeast Asia. In the past, Russians and Mongolians would go there to purchase goods. We pack the clothes here, transport them to clubs in North Korea and sell them locally.

Many Koreans come to China with goods. Some North Koreans go to the wholesale market to buy a lot of clothes on business trips. Because they are cheap, they go back and add money to sell them. Now it is also the case.

△ I am accompanied by Ms. Hua Qing from North Korea.

Besides selling clothes, I have also done building materials, bulk commodities and so on. What North Korea lacked in the past, we immediately prepared it, and this kind of trade is very easy to do. When it was not sanctioned, the funds were relatively abundant. Now, after years of sanctions, North Korea’s economy is relatively weak. For example, it needs cash, but it can’t give you a refund immediately. Now both sides are afraid of being cheated in business, and there have been tragedies of being cheated before, so North Korea needs people like us.

△ I went to Pyongyang to have an interview with people from the club.

In the early years, I didn’t have to go to North Korea often. I communicated with clubs or trade representatives by sending international faxes and making phone calls. Conditional units would have a landline and fax to receive international calls. We couldn’t call their mobile phones, but only the landline. As soon as a dozen landline phones are called for someone, the person who answers the phone will shout all over the building, and then he will hear the footsteps of someone running to answer the phone.

I still use my computer to send emails. The other party needs to register my email address with the communication department before sending it to North Korea, mainly to prevent espionage. North Korea’s network is disconnected from the Internet. As soon as the club staff turns on their computers, they log on to the e-mail page and can only send and receive e-mails, but other websites can’t be opened.

△ Visit Pyongyang Dacheng Garment Factory

North Korean personnel are also very smart now. They have a relatively accurate understanding of the prices in China. They send an email directly in the form of a list, write down the prices clearly and ask me if I can do a certain price. Recently, I cooperated with the largest air-conditioning factory in North Korea, as well as the refrigerator and washing machine factory, which required tens of thousands of parts, and these parts were not new, and they were all used.

Go out accompanied by three Koreans.

△ I and North Korea accompanied Ms. Hua Qing to say goodbye at Pyongyang Railway Station.

△ stewardess of Koryo Airlines

In the past five years, I have traveled to and from North Korea more frequently because I gradually started to do business and cultural exchange of bulk commodities. Every time I go to North Korea, I take a train or a plane. It takes me 40 minutes to fly from Shenyang to Pyongyang. People from the Korean club will meet us at the airport or the railway station. Generally, there are three people, one driver and two escorts.

△ I am staying in a foreign-related hotel.

Then drive us to foreign-related hotels in Pyongyang. These hotels only allow foreigners to stay, such as Koryo Hotel, but the reception staff of the North Korean unit will accompany us throughout those days, so all of them will stay in hotels. Accompanied by North Korean personnel, you can ask where you want to go, and you can go to most places.

Sometimes the North Korean club entertains, and the atmosphere comes together, singing and dancing, and shouting "Long live the friendship between China and North Korea", which is often the case. Among all countries in the world, North Koreans should have the deepest feelings for Chinese.

△ at the entrance of international communication bureau

△ Inside the business hall of the International Telecommunication Bureau

Every time I enter the country, I will take my mobile phone card to the business hall of the International Telecommunication Bureau to activate it. I used to run a mobile phone card for foreigners in North Korea. It costs 200 dollars to open a 3G card, and the traffic fee is particularly expensive. I have to activate it before I can use it. When I went to North Korea in 2003, there was no internet, and I was not allowed to bring my mobile phone into the country. I had to stay in Dandong.

△ Jiangsu and Zhejiang businessmen cut the ribbon for opening a small shopping mall.

△ Small commodities sold in the shopping mall of Yimitai

Some time ago, I took businessmen from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to cut the ribbon in a small shopping mall opened in Pyongyang, and I planned to try it first. They are all bosses of small commodities in Yiwu, and some have their own factories, which make stationery, fabrics and clothing. They also contacted the clubs in North Korea through intermediaries and found the docking unit in North Korea before opening the shopping mall.

△ Small multifunctional ATM

North Korea Future Bank has recently developed a small multi-functional cash machine, and a small number of them are currently being promoted and used. North Korea develops software and we provide hardware equipment for the machine. These deposit machines look very simple. Insert the bank card, and the screen shows that you can withdraw money, recharge your mobile phone, and buy games and movies on them.

Korean people all have mobile phones, and you can also see low-headed people on the subway. But mobile phones have to pay to download games and movies, which is very cheap. A movie costs 1,000 to 2,000 won, which is equivalent to 2 yuan, and ordinary people can afford it.

△ I am wearing a portrait stamp with the head of the North Korean leader printed on it.

After years of trading, I was awarded a portrait seal by the North Korean government. This chapter is awarded to people who have made outstanding contributions to North Korea and needs the help of relevant units and clubs to apply. There is also a small ceremony when you wear it. It is very formal. A circle of people or several people surround you. A leader gives a speech first, praising his contribution to North Korea, then puts it on my chest, and then the people around him applaud.

If I continue to develop in Pyongyang, I may prepare to open an office in Pyongyang next year, that is, a branch. The Koreans call it a branch, so I can be more free. I can buy a car in Pyongyang and hang a red license plate for foreigners, which means "outside" in Chinese.

Life and consumption of Koreans

△ High-rise buildings on the streets of Pyongyang

△ Korea Hospital

Although I have been doing business with North Korea for more than ten years, I can only understand Korean, but I can’t speak it very well. The accompanying staff often introduce me. The North Korean government attaches great importance to education, and it is difficult for the country, but the welfare policy is better, providing free housing and education for the people. Although there are some signs of buying and selling real estate, there are not many, and the government does not advocate or oppose it. Medical care is also free, which is called the national health insurance system.

I have visited the Learning Hall of Renmin University in Kim Il Sung Square, where people are taught many things for free, such as five foreign languages, Chinese, English, Russian, Japanese and Spanish. North Koreans are now working hard to learn foreign languages, and they are full of learning spirit. Their homes are all for people to study and train college students.

△ Pyongyang people like to eat cold noodles in Yuliu Pavilion.

After Kim Jong-un took office, North Korea can be said to have undergone earth-shaking changes. Many new high-rise buildings have been built, and large national projects have been completed one after another. The whole North Korea has also set off a wave of making money. It is not shameful to make money, and the people also have the determination to invigorate the economy. In the past, North Korea did not allow consumption, even if it had money, it might not dare to spend it. Now it’s all liberalized. As long as you have money and can make money, you can spend it.

△ Department Store in Guangfu District of Pyongyang

The newly opened Dacheng department store in Pyongyang has luxury goods and international cosmetics, and many people go shopping. In the past, Koreans were not allowed to sell things secretly, but now they all turn a blind eye. At night, there are many stalls in bridge opening, a bicycle lane. Everyone sets up a stall and supports an LED lamp. The lamps are all the same, so many people go there to buy things.

△ Accompanied by North Korea who hosted me

Walking on the streets of Pyongyang, you can see that women’s clothes are also very popular, and all kinds of colors look pleasing to the eye. People don’t save much money. Without that concept, they spend money and pay more attention to the quality of life. North Koreans make their homes beautiful, and they are willing to spend money on decoration.

After all, it is the capital. Ordinary people have money. Some people also spend RMB in their wallets. There are exchange rates in shops. Many foreign currencies in North Korea are in circulation, including US dollars, British pounds, euros, RMB and Japanese yen. Some markets can only use Korean currency. I can only change RMB into US dollars first, and then change US dollars into Korean currency.

△ Round restaurant

The signs of shops on the street are particularly simple and interesting. In some places, restaurants just write the word "restaurant", which is called canteen in Korean, and shops only write shops, and the place where hair is cut is called barber shop, and it’s over, unlike our ever-changing signs here. North Korea’s signboards are not allowed to go too far, and their names must be approved, and they must be famous, such as Donghai Hotel and Yinhe Shopping Mall.

△ North Korean couple’s wedding

I once met a Korean couple getting married at the entrance of the hotel, and the escort told me that the red envelope given by the Koreans when they got married was US dollars, which was 50 dollars for a normal relationship, 100 dollars for a better one, and 1,000 dollars for relatives and friends.

North Korea’s fertility rate is not high, and the country now attaches great importance to improving the fertility rate and is slowly carrying out reforms. Women who give birth to more than five children in North Korea will be called "heroic mothers" and the state will issue certificates. If twins are born, a gold ring will be given to the boy, and a silver makeup knife will be given to the girl. The silver makeup knife is a dowry item, and it is a knife made of silver.

△ North Korean street

Visiting and trading in North Korea, I also saw more about the daily life of North Koreans. There are many taboos in wearing clothes in North Korea, such as clothes that are too exotic, jeans and more exposed ones. There are discipline pickets in North Korea. On the way, I saw the retired old lady standing on the street and watching. As soon as any girl wore something special, she immediately came out to stop: Why did you come out dressed like this? Not next time. Which unit is it?

△ Hanging paintings in North Korean hospitals

North Korea attaches great importance to the education of the main idea, and often holds meetings. In the supermarket, books with red covers are also sold, which are political and ideological study report books. Koreans will buy them, and the unit will organize study every Saturday, which has become a habit. Foreigners are not allowed to buy it, but I secretly asked the Koreans to buy one.

△ In the Enqing Hotel of Pyongyang Acrobatics Institute, North Korea accompanied the singing performance.

△ Korean people dancing in the park

The Korean nation has been a nation that can sing and dance since ancient times. In Pyongyang’s parks, people often dance together, and children can basically play one or two musical instruments, which seems to be very happy. Although North Korea is now cut off from the international community, to a certain extent, I feel that people sometimes don’t know too much and have no pressure.

△ Indoor volleyball court in Wanjingtai Children’s Palace

Koreans love sports very much. Every unit has a dual-purpose court, volleyball and basketball. They especially like playing volleyball and table tennis. From 12 noon to 2 pm, all units are closed. The whole company, regardless of men, women and children, came out to dance in groups, which was very passionate.

△ At the Pyongyang Marathon, Europeans and Americans came to participate.

△ I participated in the marathon in Pyongyang.

I have run two marathons in Pyongyang, and I have met many people from Chinese and Europe and America. Foreigners are so energetic that they are particularly curious about North Korea, but they don’t feel much after reading it.

△ I am accompanied by North Korea

North Korea is not mysterious, nor is it as terrible as outsiders think. In fact, it has been trying to integrate into the international community. It is a very normal country, but outsiders don’t understand it.

I feel honored to engage in economic activities and cultural exchanges with North Korea now, which can enhance the outside world’s understanding of North Korea. The longer I have been in contact with North Korea, I will have some feelings for this nation, and I hope that the friendship between the two countries will last forever.

Oral | Zhao Bin

Author | Lu Xiaoxi

Edit | Tula

Intern | Zou Wenchang

Phoenix news client Phoenix. com produced in the human studio.

The picture is provided by the interviewee

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