5 Won Capitalist Visitor

North Korea operated parallel currency systems for foreign visitors throughout the late Cold War period, segregating convertible hard currency from domestic won circulation. The Foreign Trade Bank issued distinct note series color-coded by visitor category — socialist bloc tourists received one set, capitalist-country visitors another. This note belongs to the latter group, exchangeable only at designated Friendship Stores and hard-currency hotels, and strictly prohibited from leaving the country.

The system effectively extracted foreign exchange while preventing any meaningful price comparison between the two economies. Notes from the capitalist series are distinguishable by their red overprint — the socialist equivalent carries a blue one.