Mick Hartley

They're Kim Jong-un's favourite – and, it seems, a rare case of an in-demand North Korean product. 

North Korean cigarettes known as “7.27” — favored by leader Kim Jong Un — are gaining popularity in parts of China’s Liaoning province despite costing four to six times more than regular Chinese cigarettes.

A Daily NK source in China said recently that “7.27 cigarettes from North Korea are selling well here even though they cost several times more than Chinese cigarettes,” adding that “people without economic means find the price burdensome.”…

“People who’ve tried them say they ‘don’t disappoint,’ ‘worth the money’ and ‘no wonder Kim Jong Un smokes these,'” the source said.

The marketing effect of being associated with Kim Jong Un and the cigarettes’ scarcity appear to be the main factors driving the premium pricing.

The name “7.27” refers to July 27, the date of the Korean War armistice agreement. North Korea calls this day “Victory Day in the Fatherland Liberation War” and celebrates it annually. The cigarette packaging includes the war years 1950-1953, showing how North Korea uses tobacco products for regime propaganda.

“North Korean cigarettes have been smuggled over and sold here for a long time,” the source said. “Premium cigarettes like 7.27 used to require special requests to import, but now they’re trickling in through illegal trade.”

The source added that “some Chinese people say everything is free in North Korea and it’s a good place to live, and they have a favorable image of Kim Jong Un,” which may explain “their strong curiosity and desire to buy North Korean cigarettes, especially 7.27.”

In North Korea, the light gray 7.27 cigarettes are also classified as premium and primarily used for bribes. Ordinary citizens cannot obtain these cigarettes even on special occasions like holidays.