A diplomat’s life: The pleasures of retail therapy in the North Korean capital | NK News
NK News Logo
December 26, 2024

NK News is hiring

Evergreen

A diplomat’s life: The pleasures of retail therapy in the North Korean capital

A former diplomat in Pyongyang recounts the realities of shopping in the city and the propaganda purpose of many stores

The following article is the second in a multipart series by Taylor Darby, a pseudonym for a foreign diplomat that worked in Pyongyang for an extended period of time before being forced to leave in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Views expressed in columns are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News.


Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

  • Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
  • Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
  • The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
  • Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
  • Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting
Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.
Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.