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The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has got to be the most mysterious, restrictive, and dreadful nations on the planet, especially if you do some research about the atrocities done on citizens. If you are wondering whether there are any Japanese cars in North Korea, the answer is “not anymore.” Why is this so? Let’s take a look at recent history so we can find the answer. In 2010, there was a National Defense Commission order stating that all Japanese-branded vehicles had to be off the streets of North Korea. Before this decree, Japanese cars made by Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi can be seen plying the country’s roads. Initially, the order covered private cars and vans less than 1.5T. Eventually, even trucks from Japan are phased out. What triggered this ban of vehicles from Japan? Analysts say that the NDC order is related to a 2006 decree issued by Kim Jong Il, in which he demanded that all Japanese cars are to be banned. The story goes that one day, the North Korean leader’s car was overtaken by a Japanese car on the Pyongyang-Wonsan highway. This began to take effect in the years that followed, resulting in thousands of perfectly good Japanese cars turned into scrap metal. The most popular (and allowed) brand in the country is Mercedes-Benz. Different models can be seen cruising on the roads, serving as the primary mode of transport for those in authority—North Korea’s rich and powerful. There may be no Japanese cars in North Korea anymore but there are Mercedes S-Class, GL-Class, and E-Class models, used as service vehicles for the diplomatic community. Those in the lower rungs of the social ladder make use of Volkswagen Passats and Jettas. For the common citizens who can afford it, they can choose from domestic brand Pyeonghwa Motors, or Chinese BYD, FAW, and Brilliance. Pyeonghwa is the only automotive brand that is allowed to manufacture vehicles in North Korea, sell new and used cars, and advertise their products. If you think that sounds like a domestic monopoly, well, not everyone can afford to buy one anyway. So, what are the bestselling Pyeonghwa car models in that sketchy part of the world? First off is the Pyeonghwa Samchunri, which is actually a rebadged Jinbei Haise van from China. It looks a lot like the 1989 Toyota Hiace model. Up next is the Pyeonghwa Hwiparam II, a rebadged 1996 Fiat Albea. Up at the #3 spot is the Pyeonghwa Premio CUV, this time a rebadged Huanghai Shuguan. See, there are no Japanese cars in North Korea but there are plenty of rebadged models! The problem with operating in a country like North Korea is that you won’t really enjoy any financial success. Pyeonghwa reports that its facility has a production capacity of ten thousand cars a year, but they only built and sold close to a thousand in the past year. There is no originality too, with their cars mostly rebadged Chinese models or copycats of Mercedes-Benz sedans. It comes as no surprise, then, that in November 2012 the company announced it was closing down. We’re left wondering what they did to all those Japanese cars in North Korea.
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