It’s an open secret that Singapore has healthy diplomatic relations with the highly-secretive North Korea, a country that’s currently pissing off the international community with its constant nuclear missile tests in the Sea of Japan. Singapore also hosts the North Korean embassy over at North Bridge Road.
But here’s something you may not know.
US-based NK News has reported that there is apparently an ongoing luxury goods trade between Pyongyang and Singapore-based company OCN (Singapore) Pte Ltd — a possible violation of national and international regulations regarding luxury goods and the DPRK.
“This service is only for royal class people,” a former North Korean official with knowledge of the issue said. “North Korea doesn’t care if commoners get problems. But if someone exposes it, and the royal class can’t import, then that’s a problem.”
In what locals refer to as “Singapore Shops”, there are two alleged outlets where luxury brands such as Gucci, Chanel and Montblanc are said to be stocked. Japanese brands such as Sony, Panasonic and Yamaha are also reported to be on sale — even though unilateral Japanese sanctions bar any direct exports to North Korea, on top of the UN Security Council sanctions already in place.
The two stores, known as Puksae and Pottongang Ryugong Shop, are believed to be joint ventures between North Korea and OCN, and they’re, unsurprisingly, hidden from tourists’ sight. One of the notable brands displayed is Montblanc, with dedicated sections selling wallets, belts, and high-end watches going for 460,000 won (S$4,874).
Richemont Luxury, the Singaporean arm of Montblanc’s French parent company, Compagnie Financiere Richemont, insisted it had “no commercial relationship” with OCN or any of its related entities. NK News also reported that three sources with direct knowledge of the situation claimed OCN acts as an importer for other vendors in the DPRK. One source claimed that OCN supplies Pyongyang’s Koryo and Yanggakdo hotels with high-end alcohol and goods for sale at shops and bars within the properties.
“Not all the products are for personal use, but high-level officials purchase the goods for bribes. As [the luxury goods] have a certain purpose, there are a lot of supplies.” said Dr Lim Eul-chul, professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES) of Kyungnam University.
OCN (Singapore) is located at Joo Chiat Road, but keeps an extremely low profile. The man in charge appears to be one Ng Kheng Wah, who apparently goes by the name “Leo”. OCN declined to comment with regards to its links to Pyongyang and its relationship remains unknown. It’s also important to remember that not all trade between Singapore and North Korea is illegal.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) were unable to comment about specific companies and individuals about NK News’ allegations.
“Singapore takes its obligations under the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) seriously, and is implementing them,” an MFA spokesman told CNN.
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