North Korea touts BBQ restaurant boom, but sceptics dismiss it as propaganda
Summary
North Korea is touting a boom in multi-story barbecue restaurants across the country, but analysts say the openings are more likely propaganda than proof of broad prosperity. Despite the fanfare, the country still faces severe food insecurity and undernourishment.
Key Points
- State media has announced more than a dozen new bulgogi restaurants nationwide since September, featuring elaborate designs and large seating capacities.
- Analysts say the restaurant push reflects Kim Jong Un’s effort to project prosperity beyond Pyongyang rather than evidence of a thriving economy.
- The UN says more than two out of five North Koreans are undernourished, and meat imports from China have risen sharply to meet demand.
- Experts and defectors argue the restaurants mainly serve as propaganda and are accessible only to a limited, privileged segment of society.
