North Korea's Moscow Restaurant Features Flight Attendant Staff

A New North Korean Restaurant Opens in Moscow

A new North Korean restaurant, named “Pyongyang-gwan,” has recently opened in Moscow, the capital of Russia. The establishment is located at the former site of a family restaurant called “Verba,” situated in the southeastern part of the city. This marks another attempt by North Korea to expand its presence in foreign markets through the operation of restaurants.

According to reports from the Telegram channel “postolovkam,” which highlights unique dining spots, the staff at Pyongyang-gwan includes actual North Korean women. These employees are described as “young women in uniforms and heels, resembling flight attendants.” The channel operator shared their experience visiting the restaurant, noting that the service was slow and orders were served randomly. They suggested that potential visitors might want to return after a month when operations become more organized.

The menu at Pyongyang-gwan features a range of Korean dishes, including ramen, bibimbap, Korean-style barbecue, and kimchi. During their visit, the operator ordered chicken wings, kimchi stew, spicy soybean paste soup, and steamed freshwater perch, spending a total of $44. While the food was available, the atmosphere was described as chaotic, with intense music playing throughout the space. Visitors could also browse Russian-language North Korean magazines while waiting for their meals.

Interestingly, the restaurant reportedly only serves Russian locals. According to a review, an employee asked a customer to show their passport to confirm their Russian nationality. The reviewer mentioned that a North Korean female employee, who was not fluent in Russian, repeatedly questioned their identity. Despite the customer’s explanation that they were Russians who had never visited South Korea, the employee remained skeptical.

North Korea has long used overseas restaurants as a means to generate foreign currency. However, these ventures often face challenges due to international sanctions. The UN Security Council has imposed restrictions on North Korean labor abroad, yet reports indicate that the regime continues to send workers to countries like Russia under various disguises, such as students.

Data from Russia’s Federal State Statistics Service reveals a significant increase in the number of North Koreans entering the country. In the previous year, 13,221 North Korean residents arrived in Russia, compared to just 1,117 the year before. The most common stated reason for their visits was “education,” with 7,887 individuals, followed by “business” with 3,098 people.

This new opening in Moscow is the second instance of a North Korean restaurant in the city, following the Koryo restaurant, which opened 15 years ago. Registered by a North Korean national named Kim Yeon-cheol in 2009, Koryo continued to operate even during the COVID-19 pandemic. It employed North Korean female staff and occasionally welcomed both foreign and Korean customers. Although records suggest it closed in 2021, some reports indicate that it may still be operating, with reviews appearing on local Russian maps as late as 2022.

The persistence of North Korean restaurants in Russia highlights the ongoing efforts of the regime to sustain its economic activities despite global pressures. As these establishments continue to open, they raise questions about the effectiveness of international sanctions and the broader implications of North Korea’s presence in foreign markets.