A swish new shopping mall in Pyongyang is breaking any number of taboos to allow the repressive country's elite a taste of conspicuous Western-style consumption. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju visited the mall prior to the official opening at the end of April.

The Haedanghwa mall not only sells South Korean cosmetics brands such as Laneige and Kerasys but also expensive global ones like Chanel, Lancome, L'Oreal's, and SK-II. It also sells expensive jewelry by Cartier and Swarovski, luxury watches by Rolex and Omega, and clothes by Italian designers. An imported suit costs around US$500 to 700.

The mall also boasts restaurants, karaoke rooms, a massage parlor, sauna, cafe, cyber cafe, billiard hall, hair salon and gym.