From Seoul's Chosun Ilbo:
Time magazine
mentions increasing private enterprise and ownership in the DPRK,
especially in the northwestern town of Hoeryong, on the Chinese
border (
Time Sees Winds of Capitalism Blow in North Korea):
Time said all over North Korea, privately run bakeries,
clothing stores and gas stations were flourishing, while in border
areas residents could buy Chinese-made mobile phones. Quoting
defectors in South Korea and China, the magazine said the
capitalism had its strongest foothold in Hoeryong, where everything
is available from rice, corn, apples, bananas, and tangerines to
beef, pork, Japanese TVs and VRCs [sic], South Korean cosmetics and
Chinese sports apparel.
It said some ordinary North Koreans owned private cars, once the
exclusive domain of the privileged class, and some have been able
to purchase homes.
The regime must know about importing, transporting and distribution
of such consumer goods, and display of items like apparel, and
based on communist history, it's likely they're encouraging it,
both for its members' benefit and to damp down resentment. The
regime can't be pleased, though, with foreign currency going for
these items, especially with the South planning currency design
changes to curb forgery.