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By Lee Jin-a
Fancy some North Korean military memorabilia? More than 7,000 items, including medals, military uniforms and propaganda posters, were on sale on international auction websites last year, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA).
The U.S. media outlet reported that most of the items were made after Kim Jong-un took the state's helm, and that the number of products available is increasing because there are more foreign visitors to the reclusive state.
RFA raised the suspicion that the North may have put the products up for sale to earn foreign currency.
"Selling and buying of these products are not a violation of U.N. sanctions because they are classified as souvenirs," Bruce Klinger, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation, told RFA.
Meanwhile, RFA reported that the North is amassing foreign currency by selling the works of government-commissioned artists via the Mansundae Art Studio Gallery website, and exports propaganda posters through Korean Posters, a state-authorized Italian company.
The U.S. media outlet reported that most of the items were made after Kim Jong-un took the state's helm, and that the number of products available is increasing because there are more foreign visitors to the reclusive state.
RFA raised the suspicion that the North may have put the products up for sale to earn foreign currency.
"Selling and buying of these products are not a violation of U.N. sanctions because they are classified as souvenirs," Bruce Klinger, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation, told RFA.
Meanwhile, RFA reported that the North is amassing foreign currency by selling the works of government-commissioned artists via the Mansundae Art Studio Gallery website, and exports propaganda posters through Korean Posters, a state-authorized Italian company.
The U.S. media outlet reported that most of the items were made after Kim Jong-un took the state's helm, and that the number of products available is increasing because there are more foreign visitors to the reclusive state.
RFA raised the suspicion that the North may have put the products up for sale to earn foreign currency.
"Selling and buying of these products are not a violation of U.N. sanctions because they are classified as souvenirs," Bruce Klinger, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation, told RFA.
Meanwhile, RFA reported that the North is amassing foreign currency by selling the works of government-commissioned artists via the Mansundae Art Studio Gallery website, and exports propaganda posters through Korean Posters, a state-authorized Italian company.