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4w ago

Pyongyang’s Car Boom Chokes Streets as Private Ownership Takes Off

Rising private purchases signal North Korea’s push to channel consumer life through state-run car sales.

Cars are parked around buildings along the North Korean border in the city of Hyesan, North Korea, in this picture taken at the China side of the border in Changbai County, Jilin province, China, September 28, 2025. JOUNG EUN-LEE/via REUTERS
A policewoman controls the traffic as people gather near the main Kim Il Sung square in central Pyongyang, North Korea April 11, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo
Cars on the road near the city of Hyesan, North Korea, in this picture taken at the China side of the border in Changbai County, Jilin province, China, September 29, 2025. JOUNG EUN-LEE/via REUTERS

Overview

  • Fresh reporting Tuesday confirms a surge of private cars in Pyongyang that is causing traffic jams, full parking lots, and the first visible EV charging points.
  • Over the past two years, new rules have let licensed drivers buy one car per household through state-certified dealers, formalizing ownership for the first time.
  • Despite a 2017 U.N. ban on vehicle exports, Chinese customs data show parts shipments soaring, including nearly 193,000 passenger tires in 2025 and sharp rises in mirrors and lubricants.
  • Vehicles still reach North Korea through informal routes along the 1,400-kilometer China border despite recent crackdowns, according to traders, visitors, and diplomats.
  • Yellow private plates now dominate busy streets, parking in central areas often comes with fees collected by attendants, and one analyst expects private cars could exceed 20,000 within a year.