North Korea promotes new barbecue restaurants amid persistent food insecurity

Politics · First reported 2 Nov, 02:24 · Updated 02:40

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA/USGS · Public domain

North Korean state media has announced more than a dozen new barbecue restaurants since September. Analysts say the openings project prosperity, while the evidence also points to continuing undernourishment and questions about who can afford to dine there.

State media has announced more than a dozen new bulgogi restaurants nationwide since September, including venues described as multi-story and able to seat hundreds.
Analysts interpret the openings as an effort to portray prosperity beyond Pyongyang, but question how widely accessible the restaurants are.
The report cites UN estimates that more than 40% of North Koreans were undernourished, alongside rising meat imports and a 3.5% economic growth estimate for 2025.

Summary written by Lux AI from 2 articles

Key facts

New restaurants announced: More than a dozen since September
Undernourishment estimate: 10.7 million people, or more than 40% of the population, in 2022
North Korean economic growth: 3.5% in 2025, according to South Korea’s central bank
Meat imports from China: Nearly US$39 million in 2025; more than four times the 2023 amount