Daily NK has caught a glimpse of the opening of an international market near the customs office in Wonjong-ri, Rason City, North Hamgyong Province. A rise in the number of Chinese tourists in North Korea following several major summit meetings held earlier in the year appears to have led to increased efforts by the regime to bring in tourist dollars.
“The Wonjong-ri International Market opened on July 7,” said a source in China close to North Korean affairs on July 11. “There aren’t many customers yet, but when they do come there’s the general expectation that the market will become very successful.”
The Wonjong-ri International Market is located near the customs office in Wonjong-ri, Rason City. Construction of the market was completed last year with investment from a Chinese entity, although its opening had been delayed due to then worsening ties between China and North Korea. The market was recently opened due to the increase in Chinese tourists to the country as Sino-North Korea relations have improved.
“There are signs that Chinese tourism will increase and the North Korean authorities have put in place a plan to draw them from the customs office to the market,” said the source.
“The authorities are actively recruiting new employees in Rason to work in the market.”
The market reportedly sells North Korean seafood products, which are banned from being exported under international sanctions, raising the suspicion that transactions continue to occur surreptitiously between North Korea and China. The Chinese customs agency, at least officially, is strictly controlling the flow of North Korean seafood products into China.
“North Korean vegetables and other agricultural products are being sold, along with dried seafood products,” said a separate source in China familiar with the market.
“Dried seafood products are banned for export under the sanctions. I think that North Korea has made an agreement with China to allow their sale to Chinese tourists.”
He added that North Korean seafood products have become less common in China due to strong crackdowns on smuggling. Instead, Chinese tourists buy and eat the seafood products in North Korea and then return to China.
“The market was opened likely to prepare for when sanctions are loosened,” he explained.
A high-level defector also reported on condition of anonymity that North Korea may have opened a market similar to a duty-free store for Chinese tourists.
“The Chinese customs authorities will turn a blind eye toward Chinese tourists who buy gifts or products for themselves in North Korea,” he said.
The Daily NK previously reported in December 2017 and March and May of 2018 that North Korean seafood products were being sold in China after being smuggled into the country.
