North Korea recently set up a knock-off IKEA store in the capital, Pyongyang using the same name and logo as the Swedish retail giant. Although the Swedish brand has dissociated from the totalitarian country, they are yet to sanction the action.

A TikTok content creator visited the famous Ryugyong mall with luxury shops and decided to share the experience. But as the person’s camera panned from one end to another, viewers could spot luxury stores like Chanel and Adidas. Although it was filmed by a private TikToker, the clip was shared via DPRK Times which had gone through clearance from the state.

An eye-catching moment for viewers was the knock-off IKEA store filled with a collection of household fittings. It included furniture like chairs, desks, shelves, and tables. Although the Swedish brand claimed that they do not have a franchise in the country, the fake store was labeled with the well-known logo appearance.

Another fact about North Korea’s knock-off IKEA stores is that the items inside are not pieces from the original outlet. Per Mirror, it is speculated that items stored in the building might be smuggled goods from China. Through the years, both countries have teamed up in terms of trading.

While IKEA distances itself from North Korea, it confirmed that the violations of its intellectual property rights are under scrutiny. So far, the Swedish brand has spread its wings to 63 different countries with nearly 500 outlets.

#Clique, what are your thoughts?