Trade Fair Gives North Koreans a View of World

Over a four-day period last month, about 20,000 curious North Koreans filed through a cavernous exhibition hall here to ogle seldom-seen products such as imported chocolates and wireless telephones. The obligatory oversize photograph of North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung, a proponent of strictly socialist economic principles, loomed over the exhibit booths.

By the standards of Asian trade shows, the event in the North Korean capital was rather small and dowdy, offering a hodgepodge of products.

"This is a low-end exhibition

But it nonetheless offered the isolated North Koreans a rare glimpse into the spice and variety of commerce in the outside world at a time when they are testing the waters of capitalism.

"The trade fair is an important window for the North Koreans," said Tony Michell, a Seoul-based consultant who works with European firms doing business in North Korea.

There was a motley assortment of merchandise that ranged from Chinese-made sunglasses and cigarette lighters to computerized pig-feeding equipment from Germany. The foreign sales representatives in attendance said they were struck by the North Koreans' enthusiasm and eagerness to learn.

"They desperately want to understand all of these technologies," said a Beijing-based representative who gave only his first name, Colin. He ran an exhibit of wireless communications equipment that attracted curiosity from the North Koreans.

"The nation's basic science training is very good. They just don't know yet how to apply what they've learned. But once they access these new technologies, they will learn very fast."

Trade fairs are among the halting moves North Korea has made to steer its economy toward a freer market. Last year, the government dropped its rationing and public distribution system and loosened price controls and exchange rates.

Public markets were recently legalized, and rules have been eased for Chinese traders trying to sell their products in North Korea.

Nevertheless, the government's ambivalence about opening the economy was apparent in the tight controls on the fair itself. All visits were strictly regulated.

North Korean visitors, usually middle-aged men in dark suits on prearranged tours, lined up at the entrance and filed into the hall.