Book Introduction

CHINA YAKKAI-OTAKU TRAVEL GUIDEBOOK: North Korean Restaurants 2024–25

中国迷の歩き方　北朝鮮レストラン2024〜25

Overview

DPRK Monitor (DM) introduces a valuable guidebook that describes the actual conditions of numerous North Korean restaurants and shops selling North Korean products located in China, based on direct visits.

According to the author, Mr. Okuma Morio, the information in the guidebook confirms the operation in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenyang, Dandong, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, and Taiyuan in Shanxi Province between 2023 and May 2025. However, the author notes that the local situation is extremely fluid, with some stores closing while new ones open.

DM notes North Korean nationals working at North Korean restaurants constitutes a violation of the obligation to repatriate them DPRK (UNSCR 2397, para 8). It should be pointed out that Mr. Okuma's observations serve as concrete and significant evidence of such violations.

Furthermore, in addition to cases of repatriation violations for North Korean workers in China, the book reveals that the MANSUDAE OVERSEAS PROJECT GROUP OF COMPANIES (KPe.050) has overseas sales bases in Beijing, which may constitute another violation of asset freeze measures (UNSCR 2371, para 3). It also notes that brewery of North Korean beer is located in Dandong, which may conflict with the ban on joint ventures and cooperative entities with DPRK (UNSCR 2375, para 18).

Filling the Monitoring Gap:

While the March 2024 UN DPRK Panel of Experts report identified over 60 North Korean restaurants in China (the Panel's report, Annex 65 listed 65 restaurants), Mr. Okuma's guidebook includes locations not listed in the Panel's report. This makes the publication a vital independent resource for tracking UNSCR violations in the post-Panel era.

Mr. Okuma is energetically updating the status of North Korean restaurants, and we look forward to further updates on his investigation.

Mr. Okuma's contact information: https://x.com/ak_prc_dprk