North Korean Restaurant Opens in Moscow... Premium Seafood and Alcohol on Offer

High Likelihood of Violating UN Security Council Sanctions Against North Korea

A North Korean restaurant has reportedly opened in the center of Moscow, the capital of Russia. The United Nations Security Council has prohibited member states from granting work permits to North Korean workers since the adoption of sanctions against North Korea in 2017, making it highly likely that the restaurant is in violation of these sanctions.

On November 27, the official Telegram account of the Russian Embassy in North Korea reported that an opening ceremony for a North Korean restaurant was held in Moscow the previous day. The event was attended by officials from relevant Russian and North Korean organizations, including Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR). The restaurant, named "Seungri Restaurant," serves North Korean dishes such as Pyongyang cold noodles and kimchi.

'Seungri Restaurant' opened in Moscow, Russia. Telegram of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Russia

Photos released by the embassy show that the menu includes premium seafood dishes such as assorted raw fish and lobster. High-end whiskey and wine were also served at the tables, and the staff were dressed in formal attire.

The embassy emphasized that this restaurant is "a place where you can taste the most delicious dishes prepared by four outstanding chefs who know the secrets of Korean cuisine," adding, "You can experience the kindness of North Korean people, the depth of friendship between Russia and North Korea, and the feeling of being among close friends."

Interior view of a restaurant displaying premium ingredients and alcoholic beverages. Telegram of the Embassy of North Korea in Russia

Previously, NK News, a media outlet specializing in North Korea, reported in September that another North Korean restaurant called "Pyongyanggwan" had opened in Moscow. This is the first time in 15 years that a North Korean restaurant has opened in Moscow since "Goryeo."

However, the overseas dispatch of North Korean workers constitutes a violation of UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. This is because Security Council member states, including Russia, are prohibited from granting work permits to North Korean workers. If North Korean workers are directly employed at Seungri Restaurant, it is highly likely to be a violation of these sanctions.