North Korea's soap dreams: Pyongyang eyes russian market despite sanctions
A North Korean soap factory has applied for a trademark for its hygiene products. This step aims to enable the sale of items such as soaps and cosmetics to Russia. The producers also consider supplying jeans, bags, and shoes to the Russian market.
Russia plans to import soap, personal hygiene items, and cosmetics from North Korea. According to the Nexta portal, the Ryongaksan soap factory, based in Pyongyang (the capital of North Korea), has applied for a trademark for these products to enter the Russian market.
According to the American portal NK News, experts doubt North Korea's ability to attract Russian consumers. Despite this, North Korean soap manufacturers want to expand their market.
Will Russia buy soap from North Korea?
According to information provided by the Russian Federal Service for Intellectual Property, on 26 June, the Ryongaksan soap factory presented its logo in a formal trademark application in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan.
In the application, the factory declared the production of various items such as soaps, hair shampoos, and bath products. As reported by the American portal NK News, this step may be an attempt by North Korea to expand its market reach beyond its borders. However, the prospects for success in the Russian market remain uncertain.
Ban on exports from North Korea to Europe
North Korean producers are considering possibly supplying the Russian market with jeans, bags, and shoes. According to the NK News portal, the clothing offer will be limited due to the specificity of this closed country. Only classic jeans are produced in North Korea. Torn or tight trousers are not available in the assortment.
However, implementing these plans may face serious obstacles. A resolution signed by Russia from the UN Security Council in 2017 bans the export of textiles from North Korea. According to nknews.org, these sanctions were imposed on Pyongyang to cut off sources of foreign currency that could be used in nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.
The UN Security Council has also banned the use of North Korean labour because workers from that country must transfer up to 70% of their earnings to the state.
