North Korea sold thousands of dollars worth of original paintings to China in the first two months of 2025 in possible violation of international sanctions, NK Pro analysis of official trade statistics shows, while continuing lucrative trade in hair products and textiles.

Wigs and fake hair products topped the country’s exports charts at $14.6 million in January and nearly $21 million in February, much as they have for the last several years, according to China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC).

But the DPRK notably tapped into the Chinese art market as well, sending 265 original “paintings, drawings