GENEVA: Switzerland last week banned the sale of 25 luxury goods to North Korea that have been sought-after treats and status symbols for the elite there.
The 25 items announced by the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research more than double a list of 12 mandated by the UN Security Council.
The ban includes even the transit trade of anything from caviar and brandy to high-end watches to the North.
Other banned goods include riding, ski, golf, and water sports equipment.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who went to school in Switzerland in the late 1990s, is reportedly fond of Swiss products.
“Swiss watches are on top of Kim’s list of presents for officials,” a security official here said. “The ban will have an impact on how he buys their loyalty.”