North Korean brewery appears to rebrand signature beer for export to China | NK News
NK News Logo
September 16, 2026Sep 16, 2026

Weapon Directory

News

North Korean brewery appears to rebrand signature beer for export to China

Expert says Rason company behind Pado Beer frequently changes product names to avoid getting flagged for sanctions

Marketing for a new North Korean beer has spread on Chinese social media in recent months, though an expert said the product appears to be a rebrand of an existing brew rather than a newly developed export.

The beer named “Pado” (파도), meaning wave, first appeared publicly in December, when a newly registered Douyin account began posting images of the beer’s label and packaging.

The account, “Imported From DPRK Pado Beer,” describes itself as the general agent for the brand in China and has since uploaded multiple promotional videos.

The marketing materials identify the beer as produced by Rason Ryongson