PYONGYANG, North Korea — In an instructional television program about table tennis on the state-run sports channel, every ball, paddle and shirt bear the logo of “Naegohyang,” one of North Korea’s most recognizable brands. Has North Korea discovered the art of product placement? The rise of the North Korean consumer under Kim Jong Un is not limited to the affluent, politically privileged elite. Many outside of North Korea assume that wanting to catch up with South Korea is the biggest factor behind Kim’s campaign. The capital has only a few billboards, all of them for Pyonghwa Motors, an automaker set up with help from South Korea.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 29, 2018 01:18 UTC