Unusual comments about internationally trademarked products from Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, during a tour around the sock factory were published in an article on a North Korean media website on Friday.

According to Yonhap, Kim toured the Pyongyang Hosiery Factory last July where he was inspecting an assortment of children's socks when one sample featuring cat logos on the part near the ankle caught his eye and he immediately recognized the logo.

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Upon seeing the logo, he said, "We have Kitty socks," referring to one of Japan's well known Sanrio products, "Hello Kitty."

As reported by JoongAng Daily, a South Korean newspaper, the North Korean leader even asked an employee of the factory if they are also producing socks with Walt Disney character, Winnie the Pooh on them.

When the employee said yes, Kim tasked the employee to tell the others who Pooh is, explaining that there are some who are not familiar with the character.

North Korea state media said that the employee Kim talked to was able to identify Pooh, a teddy bear, as one of Disney's most famous cartoon characters.

Kim praised the factory employee and liked the idea of putting cartoon characters on children's socks. He even encouraged the idea so that the children will love wearing their socks.

What's uncertain though is whether or not North Korea pays or plans to pay royalties to the Japanese company Sanrio or to the Walt Disney Company for using their well loved and trademarked cartoon characters on North Korean products.

Seeing Kim Jong Un mingling with ordinary employees and citizens of North Korea is taken as evidence that the leader is gradually adapting to a global-minded approach when it comes to their country's economic development, unlike his grandfather Kim Il Sung and his father Kim Jong Il.

Kim went to an exclusive school in Switzerland and can be remembered emphasizing the importance of creating North Korean products based on international standards. 

Last month, Kim toured a cosmetics factory in Pyongyang where he casually talked about various cosmetic brands such as Chanel, Dior and Lancome.

TagsNorth Korea, Hello Kitty, Sanrio, Winnie the Pooh, Walt Disney