Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

North Korea may finally be embracing a more consumer-friendly culture - here's what people are buying

Sarah JacobsSep 3, 2017, 20:43 IST

Wong Maye-E/AP

Tensions between North Korea and the US continue to rise, and the US State Department's ban on travel to North Korea is being implemented this weekend. Still, there are signs that cultural changes are slowly starting to take root in the hermit kingdom.

There are only three billboards up in the capital city of Pyongyang, and there are no advertisements on television or in the newspapers. But supermarkets there are beginning to show signs of branding, and customer-driven sales like "buy-two-get-one-free" discounts are becoming more common.

The Associated Press recently photographed Potonggang, a state-run department store. Take a look, below.

All captions are by AP.