An empty booth at Pyongyang’s 22nd Spring Trade Fair, May 20, 2019 | Image: NK News
North Korea and China recently kicked off their first joint trade fair since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But unlike past fairs that featured hundreds of in-person booths, this year’s event includes an online component to allow companies stuck in the DPRK to participate.
China’s severe COVID lockdowns in the border city of Dandong, however, mean just ten Chinese and 12 North Korean companies are participating in the trade show virtually.
As in years past, North Korean companies are showcasing an array of goods, from toilets to alcohol and tobacco.
The
North Korea and China recently kicked off their first joint trade fair since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But unlike past fairs that featured hundreds of in-person booths, this year’s event includes an online component to allow companies stuck in the DPRK to participate.
China’s severe COVID lockdowns in the border city of Dandong, however, mean just ten Chinese and 12 North Korean companies are participating in the trade show virtually.
Ethan Jewell is a Seoul-based correspondent for NK News focused on sanctions, trade and maritime issues. He previously worked as an investigations and intelligence specialist for Pinkerton Comprehensive Risk Management and as a research intern for the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies. Follow Ethan on Twitter @EthanJewell