Racetrack Gambling Come To North Korea As Sanctions Hurt Economy
- 7 years ago
North Koreans are off to the races.
A series of horse races were recently held at the Mirim Horse Racing Club near Pyongyang. It's one of many new leisure developments pushed by Kim Jong Un, even as his citizens struggle for food. Hundreds attended the races, with racegoers as young as 12 allowed to bet on the horses. White horses, which have traditionally been a propaganda symbol associated with the ruling Kim family, are now used to bring in cash to an increasingly isolated nation.
After new, more lenient gambling sanctions were imposed in North Korea, there's been an effort to generate new sources of hard currency. Initially, gambling in North Korea was punishable by three years hard labor.
A series of horse races were recently held at the Mirim Horse Racing Club near Pyongyang. It's one of many new leisure developments pushed by Kim Jong Un, even as his citizens struggle for food. Hundreds attended the races, with racegoers as young as 12 allowed to bet on the horses. White horses, which have traditionally been a propaganda symbol associated with the ruling Kim family, are now used to bring in cash to an increasingly isolated nation.
After new, more lenient gambling sanctions were imposed in North Korea, there's been an effort to generate new sources of hard currency. Initially, gambling in North Korea was punishable by three years hard labor.