Kim Jong Il has died

[Pobeda45]

When the deals are good enough to share they will certainly be shared. I am still manipulating until I get the prices "right". I don't need too much to complete my full set but as for variations I have no idea.

Agreed...love the early awards and would always be happy to be a buyer for any extras you get your hands on! :thumbsup

George

[Norm Braddock]

I do wonder though, if that place is so tightly monitored, how do they get awards,etc. out of there?

[CtahhR]

Bribing a border guard on the Yalu to look the other way is the main source of export.

It is also the main source of the exportation of DPRK citizens.

Some folks cross back and forth very frequently and have connections on the Chinese side.

The latest "drought" was caused either by a "changing of the guard" or a changing in the routines of the usual exporter.

With the right contacts and the right sort of money you could get anything out.....

[desantnik]

With the right contacts and the right sort of money you could get anything out.....

So true in almost any situation...

[Norm Braddock]

If a North Korean got caught smuggling/selling NK awards, what would they do them?

Slap on the wrist or gulag? Legit question.

[CtahhR]

Depending on the situation anything from bribing their way out of the problem to public execution and "gulag" for 3 generations of the family.

The people risking themselves in this way to get the items out are rather desperate to say the least.

[Norm Braddock]

From a business perspective and given the above parameters, one would think the rariety of obtaining the awards would command very high prices.

[CtahhR]

With the lack of knowledge generally available on the awards collectors of the awards of other nations with a well documented history are usually put off. Also contrary to popular belief many of the DPRK awards are out there in the hundreds of thousands. In comparison to their metal content they are worth a large percentage more than their soviet counterparts. The average DPRK award is made of a few cents worth of copper, so if you pay $3 for a common order you are paying over 1000% the metal's value if the same were true of Soviet awards you would be looking at over $300 for a OPW2 1985.

There are of course exceptions to this as Soviet made Orders of the National Flag 3rd Class can often be bought for under metal content value.

Usually the cost of postage on a DPRK award makes purchasing the award nonviable - unless of course you buy in bulk.

[Norm Braddock]

So which are good investments for the future-within reason.

[Norm Braddock]

and who sells them, ie., a reputable dealer?