North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country located in East Asia. In comparison to other countries in the region, it has a distinctive, closed-off economic policy, as well as a self-imposed “isolationist” foreign policy. One of the starkest examples of this, is that North Koreans cannot buy Coca Cola, or any other American product for that matter. Despite the fact that this seems like an insignificant problem on the surface, the consequences for North Koreans are far-reaching.
North Korea’s government has long had an antagonistic relationship with the U.S., and by extension, American products. The DPRK’s leaders have always enforced a strict regulation on imported goods, and this is certainly exemplified by their prohibition on Coke. In the DPRK, even mentioning the product in public could be punishable by censorship, a fine, and even imprisonment, according to various human rights organizations.
The implications of this are immense. North Koreans have been left to fill a gap that Coke could have filled. Besides the obvious unavailability of the product itself, the lack of Coca Cola means that a big chunk of economic activity has been left untouched in the DPRK. An opportunity to create more jobs and foreign currency income has been wasted due to political ideologies. This has been especially fatal for poorer citizens, who rely heavily on the minimal job opportunities that foreigners bring to the country.
There is an additional problem at hand too. When others were drinking their Cokes, the North Koreans had to look for alternatives, which led to the mass production of a North Korean version of Coke, called Ch’lp-so. Ch’lp-so is a sugary, clear drink, with a slightly acidulous flavor, according to reports. Besides its distinct taste, the drink is heavy in calories and not a balanced replacement for a Coke due to it having zero dietary benefits other than in that it’s a source of energy.
That being said, the story of Ch’lp-so is ultimately a sad one. The product is not only a poor substitute for an end product like Coke, but its production also creates ground-level production problems. With the primary resources fed in, being sugar, water and citric acid, it creates a very low-quality product which runs the risk of upsetting the price and availability of food in the country, even more so than it already is. Additionally, with the Korean version of Coke not following international standards of production, the physical health of North Koreans is put at risk.
Further, the presence of Coca-Cola in North Korea would be a great sign of the country opening up to the outside world. Coca Cola is a symbol of American culture, so by having it available in the DPRK, it would show that its people have begun to welcome foreign interests. However, no matter its intentions, international sanctions and a refusal to cooperate with the US have prevented North Korea from accessing Coke. Unfortunately, it looks like the reality of North Koreans drinking Coke will remain a distant dream for now.
Ch’lp-so’s Impact on Human Health
The ingredients that make up Ch’lp-so render it an unhealthy beverage choice for North Koreans. Despite its low cost and availability, Ch’lp-so’s side-effects are damaging for the health of the North Korean populace. According to a diagnosis made by the International Red Cross, 40% of North Koreans suffer from malnutrition. The reason for this could be a multitude of factors, with the main one being the lack of access to healthy foods. Fried foods and baked foods are the most prevalent options in the DPRK, so the combination of a poor diet and the lack of nutrients from Ch’lp-so, make matters worse.
Certain diseases can be linked back to the consumption of Ch’lp-so. For instance, heartburn and acid reflux are common in people who consume large amounts of the drink. Also, the occasional diarrhea and constipation, due to the imbalanced diet of the consumers. Furthermore, these chemicals found in the beverage can damage people’s livers, leading to an accumulation of toxins, which often goes undiagnosed until it reaches a critical level.
Effects on Economic Conditions
The presence of a global product such as Coke, would not only mean health benefits for North Koreans, but it would also deliver huge influxes of money into the economy, due to the taxes and employment opportunities. By the same token, the issue of North Korea not having any American products such as Coke is causing significant economic drawbacks for the country.
The production of Ch’lp-so has made use of the country’s natural resources, such as sugar and water. However, it has also forced the use of inadequate ingredients to cut back on spending and maximise profits, making the end product as cheap as possible. This ultimately has similar economic consequences to counterfeiting in other countries. It has even been claimed that these cheap products cost the country’s economy, as suppliers don’t want to buy North Korean products due to the quality being so low, meaning North Korean businesses are cut off from the international market.
The production of Ch’lp-so, also entailed a great loss in potential income for foreign currency. Not only the production of Coke would have attracted foreign business people, it would also have provided plenty of legal jobs, ensuring the DPRK is no longer internationally isolated and would be seen on the same playing field as other countries, such as China and South Korea.
North Korean Stance on Coke
North Korea has strong stances on multinational companies, and they resist their influence as much as they can. Local sources claim that the county has “no need” for Coke, and that the current substitute – Ch’lp-so – is perfectly adequate for the population’s needs. This makes the prospect of North Korea opening up to Coke and American products especially unlikely, even though it would open the county’s doors to pressurisation from the international community, if it was to happen.
So far, North Korea hasn’t shown any signs of opening up. The country remains unconvinced by foreign interests, and it doesn’t think that American products – such as Coke – would help the citizens. This is why it has implemented a whole range of different initiatives, such as dedicating an entire North Korean holiday to boycotting foreign products. This has a cascading effect on people’s attitudes in the countries, making them more averse to foreign influence and ideas.
Comparison to South Korea
The numerous benefits that the South Koreans enjoy when it comes to access to Coca Cola, make the contrast to the North Koreans even starker. In South Korea, Coke is seen as a symbol of internationalization, with the Minister of Unification deeming it as a “proud symbol of economic openness”. South Koreans not only have free access to Coke, but they also have access to an extensive selection of premium American drinks and groceries, making them much better off in terms of lifestyle than North Koreans are.
Furthermore, the South Korean economy has heavily benefitted from the presence of American products, including Coca Cola. By removing the strict import regulations imposed by the North Korean government, the South Koreans were eventually able to create a friendly environment for foreign investments. Coke has been at the forefront of many of these investments, with its production in South Korea creating 500 jobs and contributing 2 billion won to the local GDP.
Coke also has a strong place in the culture of South Korea. Because it is a symbol of economic strength and national pride, it is heavily infused into each South Korean’s life. It is seen in public areas, in people’s homes, and in the lives of the majority of its people. In the DPRK, Coke captured this power when it premiered a half-hour program on Korean culture, entitled “Coca-Cola-Koreana” back in 1986. The production of the program was supported by the government in the DPRK at the time and was meant to promote unity and harmony among the Peoples. Unfortunately, as the political climate changed, so did its stance on Coke, with it being completely banned from North Korea now.
Impact of Covid-19
With the outbreak of Covid-19, North Korean citizens were even further denied access to American products. Not only has it has increased sanctions from America and undercut foreign investments, but it has also had a huge impact on humanitarian aid to North Korea. Humanitarian aid helps millions of vulnerable North Koreans, and Ive been cut back or stopped altogether due to the Covid-19 pandemic, creating an even bigger gap in the country’s economy.
When it comes to Coca Cola, the lack of foreign aid, as well as the lack of foreign investments resulting from the pandemic, mean that the chances of the DPRK opening up to American products any time soon have decreased even further. This is a huge loss of opportunity for North Koreans, who have been denied access to international brands and quality products, especially when they need them most.
Looking Ahead
Regardless of the consequences of the pandemic, opening up to Coke could still be a potential gateway for the county eventually denuclearising. As of now, the chances of North Koreans being able to access Coke or even think about drinking it, seems slim, with the current conditions in the country. In the long run however, it is possible that the North will eventually open up to the US and maybe even Coke, when the sanctions are lifted and the internal economic and political struggle ends.
Until then, North Koreans and the world will have to go without the iconic soda, only dreaming of a better future, in which the product is present in the lives of the North Koreans.
