Okryu: North Korea launches online shopping website

North Korea has announced the launch of its first online shopping website, called Okryu, state news agency KCNA reported.

Okryu, a state-run website, offers a range of products including food and medicines.

The North Korean government says the site is “aimed at promoting convenience for the people”, but it’s not clear how many will actually be able to use it, as internet access is extremely limited outside of elite circles.

Some people can use North Korea’s own state-controlled intranet – known as Kwangmyong – via their smartphones, but computers are prohibitively expensive for the average worker and ownership requires government approval.

Okryu also shows that North Korea has improved its IT systems, Kim Heung-kwang, a former professor at Pyongyang Computer Technology University, told South Korea’s JoongAng Daily.