Buying Books on North Korea on Kongfz.com: A Guide for Scholars, Historians & Research Libraries

CNXtrans
16 hours ago
6 min read

For scholars, researchers, and collectors interested in North Korea—its history, politics, society, propaganda, culture, and more—finding reliable sources and books can be challenging. Many of the best materials are published in Chinese, rare, out of print, or available only in second‑hand form in China, Korea, or among specialty sellers. One platform that has become essential for accessing Chinese‑language books, vintage copies, rare editions, and academic materials is Kongfz.com.

Kongfz is a massive marketplace for old and rare books, manuscripts, scrolls, academic texts, and cultural collectibles. However, for international buyers, especially those outside China, there are often obstacles: lack of international payment options, language barriers, and shipping limitations.

This is where CNXtrans plays a critical role. CNXtrans acts as a purchasing and shipping agent, making it feasible for academics anywhere to order books from Kongfz.com—including books about North Korea—and have them delivered internationally.

This guide will cover:

Why Kongfz.com is especially valuable for North Korea scholarship
Typical types of North Korea books you can find there
Difficulties international buyers face on Kongfz.com
How CNXtrans solves those difficulties: what the process looks like
Step-by-step instructions for using CNXtrans to get North Korea books from Kongfz
Things to watch out for (authenticity, editions, condition, customs)

Why Kongfz.com Is a Treasure Trove for North Korea Books

If you're researching North Korea, you might be looking for:

Propaganda books, pamphlets, periodicals or magazines published in Chinese about North Korean ideology or relations with China
Memoirs or histories by Chinese scholars about visits to North Korea, Chinese-Korean border issues, trade, and culture exchange
Translations into Chinese of works from Korean or other languages, or commentaries written in Chinese on Korean politics
Rare editions, photography books, vintage maps, newspapers, or journals that document moments in North Korea’s modern history
Academic monographs, theses, and dissertations published in China about DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) foreign policy, culture, and society

Kongfz is especially rich because many listings are second-hand or rare, meaning they are not reprinted elsewhere, often from small sellers or private collections. That means pieces that are difficult to locate outside of China might live on Kongfz.

Common Types of North Korea Books on Kongfz

Here are categories of works you might find:

Type	Description / Why Valuable
Historical / Political Monographs	Books by Chinese or Korean scholars analyzing North Korea’s domestic politics, foreign relations, nuclear policy, political economy.
Propaganda / Ideological Texts	Chinese translations of North Korean speeches, internal publications, ideological treatises, or documents published in DPRK and circulated in China.
Memoirs / Biographies	Works by defectors, scholars, diplomats, or Chinese visitors. Photographic memoirs can also be particularly vivid.
Maps, Atlases, Newspapers, Periodicals	Historical maps, old newspapers, magazines from Cold War era, articles about North Korea from Chinese periodicals.
Culture, Art, Literature	North Korean poetry, literature, artwork, official photography books, travel writing, Chinese collections of North Korean art or culture.
Language Resources	Translational works, dictionaries, texts used in Chinese-language academia that reference or include content about Korean language, or works by Koreans published in China.

Because of rarity, many of these items are only in one copy, or in fragile condition—so condition, edition, publisher, and year are essential details to check when buying.

Obstacles for International Buyers on Kongfz.com

Despite the richness of materials, international academics often face obstacles:

No international payment optionsKongfz only accepts Chinese domestic payment methods like Alipay, WeChat Pay, or Chinese bank cards, which most foreign buyers don’t have access to.
No international shippingMost sellers on Kongfz only ship within China. The platform itself does not provide international shipping options.
Language and interface barrierKongfz is entirely in Chinese. Searching for the right title, keyword, or author requires understanding Chinese characters, Pinyin, or historical naming conventions.
Edition, authenticity, conditionBecause many books are second-hand or vintage, details like edition, printing, and binding must be carefully confirmed to avoid getting the wrong version.
Customs documentation, import rulesInternational shipping of printed materials can be subject to customs scrutiny, taxes, or import restrictions—especially for politically sensitive content.
Limited stock / single item availabilityMany rare books are sold in single units. If not bought quickly, they may disappear forever.

These issues make direct purchasing from Kongfz nearly impossible for many international researchers.

How CNXtrans Enables International Scholars to Buy from Kongfz.com

CNXtrans is a trusted China-based shipping and purchasing agent that solves all the above problems. Here's what they offer:

A full Buy-For-You service: You send CNXtrans the URLs of the books you want from Kongfz, and they purchase them on your behalf using local payment methods.
China warehouse receiving: The books are shipped to CNXtrans’s warehouse in China from the Kongfz sellers.
Consolidation and repackaging: If you order from multiple sellers, CNXtrans can consolidate all packages into one shipment to reduce international shipping costs.
Efficient international shipping: They ship globally to nearly every country, offering air, sea, and express courier services.
Customs documentation and tracking: CNXtrans prepares the necessary documents for export and provides tracking once shipped.
Support for institutions and individuals: Whether you're an individual academic or a university library, CNXtrans can support your purchasing and shipping needs.

Step-by-Step Guide: Using CNXtrans to Buy North Korea Books from Kongfz

Step 1: Search for Books on Kongfz

Use Chinese keywords such as “朝鲜” (North Korea), “朝鲜政治” (North Korean politics), “金日成” (Kim Il-sung), or “金正恩” (Kim Jong-un).
Browse and select the listings you’re interested in.
Record the URLs or ISBNs.

Step 2: Submit Your Book List to CNXtrans

Contact CNXtrans and provide the list of book URLs from Kongfz or ISBNs via Buy and Ship for You | cnxtrans
Inform CNXtrans which country you would like them to ship to.

Step 3: Receive a Price Quote

CNXtrans will provide you with a total cost, including:
- Item price(s)
- Domestic shipping cost from sellers to CNXtrans’s warehouse
- Agent service fee (including international shipping)

Step 4: CNXtrans Purchases Your Books

Once you approve the quote and make payment, CNXtrans buys the books on your behalf.
The books are shipped from the Kongfz sellers to the CNXtrans warehouse.

Step 5: Book Arrival, Inspection, and Consolidation

CNXtrans receives your books, checks them for condition and accuracy, and stores them.
If you ordered from multiple sellers, they’ll consolidate the shipments into one box.

Step 6: International Shipping

Choose your preferred shipping method (e.g., express, air freight, sea freight).
CNXtrans prepares the customs paperwork and ships the consolidated package.
You receive tracking information and wait for your shipment to arrive.

Why CNXtrans Is Ideal for Academics and Collectors

Expertise in books and collectibles: CNXtrans regularly handles rare, fragile, and valuable books, making them a suitable choice for scholars.
Supports larger institutional shipments: University libraries or research institutions can use CNXtrans for large orders, bulk shipping, or long-term partnerships.
Two months of free warehouse storage: Gives you time to collect books from different sellers before consolidating and shipping them.
Reliable customer support: Especially helpful when dealing with condition reports, seller communication, and documentation.

Things to Watch Out for When Buying Books on North Korea from Kongfz

Check for authentic editions: Avoid low-quality reprints or bootlegs unless that’s acceptable for your research.
Ask for condition reports if needed: Rare books may have annotations, damage, or missing pages.
Use accurate Chinese search terms: Proper keywords help uncover hidden gems.
Don’t delay when you see a rare item: Books may not be relisted once sold.
Be aware of customs regulations: Especially with politically sensitive materials.

Real-World Example: A Researcher’s Experience

A political science professor looking for a rare Chinese-translated edition of Kim Il-sung's speeches from the 1970s found a seller listing it on Kongfz. Unable to pay with an international card or ship directly, he turned to CNXtrans. Within a few weeks, the book was purchased, delivered to CNXtrans’s warehouse, consolidated with other books, and then shipped to the professor’s university in Canada.

Without CNXtrans, the book would have been unreachable.

Final Thoughts

Kongfz.com is an exceptional platform for scholars researching North Korea, with access to rare and out-of-print Chinese-language books that are unavailable elsewhere. But for international buyers, direct access is limited by payment, shipping, and language barriers.

CNXtrans bridges that gap—handling the entire purchasing process from China to your doorstep, including payment, consolidation, repackaging, and global shipping.

If you're an academic, collector, or institutional buyer looking to deepen your library on North Korean history, ideology, politics, or culture, using CNXtrans to buy from Kongfz is not just convenient—it’s essential.

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