Official North Korea World Cup Gear Is Somewhat Hard To Come By

World Cup merchandise retailers have been frantically looking to get their hands on the jersey the North Korean national team will wear in this year’s cup, their first appearance since 1966. No matter how distasteful the association, there’s always going to be some market with fans who are looking to round out their jersey collection or those seeking simply that rare, attention-grabbing piece of miscellany.↵↵The North Koreans haven’t exactly aided the vendors in their quest by neglecting to wear their uniforms in pre-Cup appearances this year. Further complicating matters, the North Koreans waited until the last minute to reach a deal with an obscure Italian apparel company, Legea SRL, after wrangling with several other suppliers over the last few months.↵

↵↵So now at least the jerseys are on their way, though it seems unlikely that vendors will have them before the World Cup starts. Of course, when the merch does arrive, will the retailers have qualms making money on a proclaimed enemy of America? Ha! Capitalism thinks not!↵

↵↵⇥As for questions about the morality of making a buck off Kim Jong Il’s favorite soccer team, the merchandisers say they don’t worry about that. ↵⇥↵⇥“We’re a football company,” [merchant Richard] Smith says. “We’re not a political adjudicator. We trade in polyester.”↵⇥

↵⇥↵⇥“I have Iran, Venezuela, everyone on the Axis of Evil,” says Ben Phillip, a Michigan graphic designer with a North Korean soccer T-shirt for sale. “It doesn’t really bother me.”↵⇥

↵↵↵That’s right! Collect the whole set. ↵

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