North Korean firms lay groundwork to sell sanctioned textiles, boilers in Russia



News North Korean firms lay groundwork to sell sanctioned textiles, boilers in Russia Patent records show two companies applied for brand protections in latest DPRK effort to export to neighboring market Anton Sokolin May 2, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A North Korean worker at the Kim Jong Suk Silk Factory in Pyongyang in Sept. 2018 \| Image: NK News Two North Korean companies have applied for brand protection in Russia in an apparent bid to export sanctioned clothes and machinery, the latest effort by DPRK businesses to establish a foothold in the neighboring market. NK News analysis of Russia’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) records shows that the Pyongyang-based Rakrang Ponghwa Trading Company filed a trademark application in late March, looking to register its Pongsonhwa (rose balsam) brand via a patent lawyer in the Tatarstan region. Two North Korean companies have applied for brand protection in Russia in an apparent bid to export sanctioned clothes and machinery, the latest effort by DPRK businesses to establish a foothold in the neighboring market. NK News analysis of Russia’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) records shows that the Pyongyang-based Rakrang Ponghwa Trading Company filed a trademark application in late March, looking to register its Pongsonhwa (rose balsam) brand via a patent lawyer in the Tatarstan region. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

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North Korean firms lay groundwork to sell sanctioned textiles, boilers in Russia

Patent records show two companies applied for brand protections in latest DPRK effort to export to neighboring market

Anton Sokolin May 2, 2025

North Korean firms lay groundwork to sell sanctioned textiles, boilers in Russia

A North Korean worker at the Kim Jong Suk Silk Factory in Pyongyang in Sept. 2018 | Image: NK News

Two North Korean companies have applied for brand protection in Russia in an apparent bid to export sanctioned clothes and machinery, the latest effort by DPRK businesses to establish a foothold in the neighboring market.

NK News analysis of Russia’s Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) records shows that the Pyongyang-based Rakrang Ponghwa Trading Company filed a trademark application in late March, looking to register its Pongsonhwa (rose balsam) brand via a patent lawyer in the Tatarstan region.

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North Korean firms lay groundwork to sell sanctioned textiles, boilers in Russia

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