North Korean Eyelashes Marketed as 'Made in China' to Bypass Sanctions

The trade significantly boosts North Korea's economy, leveraging China-based firms for processing and global distribution.

North Korean false eyelashes are being sold globally as 'Made in China', circumventing international sanctions and aiding the country's economic recovery.
The trade involves China-based firms importing semi-finished products from North Korea, completing and packaging them before selling to markets in the West, Japan, and South Korea.
North Korea's exports to China, primarily consisting of wigs and eyelashes, more than doubled in 2023, contributing significantly to the secretive state's exports last year.
The US and UN have imposed sanctions on North Korea, but trading in hair products like false eyelashes does not violate international law, according to sanctions experts.
The trade provides a vital source of foreign currency for North Korea, with estimates suggesting the regime seizes up to 90% of foreign income generated by its citizens.