内容摘要：By Yi Whan-wooNorth Koreans are showing growing interest in American novels and films ahead of the h

By Yi Whan-woo

North Koreans are showing growing interest in American novels and films ahead of the historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12, according to sources familiar with Pyongyang.

U.S. novels and movies are officially banned and special units of the North Korean police crack down on their possession and sale.

But demand has increased in public markets after Pyongyang announced the Kim-Trump summit, a source said.

"With people now becoming more interested in the U.S., more people are looking for U.S. novels and movies," the source said told Radio Free Asia recently. "Booksellers in markets are asking college students to bring them U.S. novels or movies on USB memory cards. College students also translate lines from the movies and put in subtitles."

The source said the most popular novel was the American classic "Gone with the Wind."

"The background to the story is somewhat similar to our own country's history and situation, and the life of the lead female character, Scarlett O'Hara, is as tough at one point as the lives of many North Korean women," the source said.

"So many people sympathize with the novel. The movie based on the novel can be found here on USB memory cards, and these are spreading rapidly."

The daily rental for American novels and films is five times more than for North Korean novels and movies, which is about 1,000 North Korean won ($0.13.)