Yes, canned soup may be fueling North Korea’s air force
PYONGYANG, Korea, Democratic People’s Republic Of — Is North Korea’s air force selling canned soup and taxi rides to upgrade its runways and airstrips?
Amid the toughest sanctions ever against the North and its nuclear weapons program, there are some compelling reasons to believe the answer may well be yes. The story of how — and why — offers some insight into how North Korea’s economy functions under Kim Jong Un.
There’s a fine line between North Korea’s military and its private sector. To augment the already huge share of the country’s limited national resources earmarked for defence, North Korean military units control everything from restaurants to farms to the flagship airline.
Air Koryo is far more than just an airline.