North Korea is working to acquire printing equipment and packaging technology from China. Authorities want to improve the quality of product packaging, labels and promotional materials.
The move suggests North Korea wants to build its own production system at home. Officials appear intent on importing both equipment and technical know-how, rather than continuing to bring in finished packaging materials from abroad.
A source in China told Daily NK on Monday that North Korean trading companies and representatives from some production units have recently approached Chinese businesspeople about the equipment. They are exploring printing and finishing machinery that would let them produce packaging materials and printed matter domestically.
Push for printing equipment tied to regional development policy
North Korea’s regional development policy calls for modernizing production facilities across the country, the source said. That push has also increased interest in upgrading how goods look, including packaging quality.
North Korea previously outsourced packaging, label and trademark production to Chinese companies. This applied mainly to high-end export goods, such as Kaesong Koryo ginseng products, Koryo medicine and alcohol and tobacco. Koryo medicine refers to traditional herbal remedies produced in North Korea. More recently, North Korea has moved toward processing these materials domestically by acquiring the necessary equipment itself.
“In the past, packaging materials and labels were often made in China and then brought into the country, but these days it seems North Korea wants to print and process everything itself,” the source said. Demand for new printing equipment appears to be rising for domestic consumer goods as well as export products, the source added, as standards for labels and packaging continue to climb.
Chinese businesspeople involved in importing North Korean goods have noted a clear shift in appearance. The contents of these products remain unchanged, they say, but the packaging has become noticeably more elaborate.
Equipment interest extends beyond basic printers
North Korea’s interest in equipment reportedly extends beyond basic printers. The source said North Korean representatives are also seeking offset and digital printers capable of producing promotional materials, booklets and flyers. They are also looking at folding and binding equipment, along with finishing machinery for producing boxes, stickers and labels.
Rather than acquiring large-scale equipment, North Korean representatives appear more focused on securing small and midsize machinery. Just as important, according to the source, is gaining the technical knowledge needed to operate that equipment reliably.
“The atmosphere seems to be that it’s more important to know whether the machines can be run properly and whether they can be repaired when they break down,” the source said. Knowing the right order to run the production process matters more than simply buying as much equipment as possible, the source added. North Korean representatives are also asking whether installation, test operation and skills training can be provided along with the equipment sale. They want to know how repairs and parts supply would be handled afterward, the source said.
Some North Korean representatives are reportedly exploring joint venture possibilities with Chinese businesspeople who have experience working with North Korea. The goal is to receive support for worker training and test operations inside North Korea. That support would help them build a self-sufficient printing and packaging production system.
The push reflects a broader shift in how North Korea views product competitiveness. Authorities are increasingly recognizing that a product’s appearance and promotional value matter alongside its actual contents.
North Korea’s regional development policy is expanding the number of local industrial factories and diversifying the goods they produce. As that trend continues, demand for higher-quality packaging, labels, instruction manuals and promotional materials is likely to keep growing.
“One of the most noticeable changes in North Korean products these days is the packaging or labeling,” the source said. “There’s a growing recognition on the North Korean side that well-made packaging makes a product look more appealing,” the source added, noting that this also helps drive sales.
North Korea’s push to secure not just equipment but technical expertise suggests an effort to reduce the country’s reliance on external suppliers. If joint ventures expand equipment imports and technical support in the future, the changes could extend beyond the appearance of factory-made goods to how those products are ultimately distributed.
Reporting from inside North Korea
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September 10, 2026 at 04:16PM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)