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I have to admit, I’d be curious to visit one of these restaurants myself. However, one has to be aware of the fact that these restaurants are reportedly linked

I have to admit, I’d be curious to visit one of these restaurants myself. However, one has to be aware of the fact that these restaurants are reportedly linked to the secretive North Korean party organization, Room 39 [1], which means that all revenue flows directly into the hands of the Kim dynasty, so in the best case you'll help financing their next BMW or much worse, the nuclear arms program—neither of these I'm very comfortable with… [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_39 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Room_39

QuinceOver 2y ago
After a quick search, I found there are North Korean restaurants in Seoul owned by escapees. Definitely a way to learn about the oppressed North Korean people shut away from the rest of the world without supporting their messed up leaders.
- tpm 2y ago
  there are and some of them are great
  - QuinceOver 2y ago
    Wonderful to know. I never even thought to look up North Korean restaurants during previous visits to South Korea. Will definitely one up next time.
shusaku 2y ago
I didn’t see the price mentioned in the article, but given that most restaurants are barely getting by, are we sure they’re really making meaningful money off this place (much less weapons money)? I wonder if it’s more for covert activities.
- pantalaimon 2y ago
  The article also mentions that the staff is not payed, which surely helps the bottom line.
  - ReptileMan 2y ago
    Sadly for a North Korean just having 2000 calories per day is considered a working class salary. 40% of the population is undernourished.
suraci 2y ago
> so in the best case you'll help financing their next BMW or much worse, the nuclear arms program That's for sure tbo, dishes at the restaurant are very expensive , and the taste is just average(my personal opinion) the primary reason I went to there is I hope the money I paid can help them build more Hwasong-18s, or if it could help their 20x10 plan https://www.38north.org/2024/08/north-koreas-regional-development-the-long-journey-toward-20x10-policy/ https://www.38north.org/2024/08/north-koreas-regional-develo...
Mountain_Skies 2y ago
Going by my dad's constant repair bills for his BMW, saddling the North Korean regime with those could be good for diverting funds away from their more unsavory endeavors.
- throw-qqqqq 2y ago
  This made me laugh :D

QuinceOver 2y ago

After a quick search, I found there are North Korean restaurants in Seoul owned by escapees. Definitely a way to learn about the oppressed North Korean people shut away from the rest of the world without supporting their messed up leaders.

tpm 2y ago
there are and some of them are great
- QuinceOver 2y ago
  Wonderful to know. I never even thought to look up North Korean restaurants during previous visits to South Korea. Will definitely one up next time.

shusaku 2y ago

I didn’t see the price mentioned in the article, but given that most restaurants are barely getting by, are we sure they’re really making meaningful money off this place (much less weapons money)? I wonder if it’s more for covert activities.

pantalaimon 2y ago
The article also mentions that the staff is not payed, which surely helps the bottom line.
- ReptileMan 2y ago
  Sadly for a North Korean just having 2000 calories per day is considered a working class salary. 40% of the population is undernourished.

suraci 2y ago

> so in the best case you'll help financing their next BMW or much worse, the nuclear arms program That's for sure tbo, dishes at the restaurant are very expensive , and the taste is just average(my personal opinion) the primary reason I went to there is I hope the money I paid can help them build more Hwasong-18s, or if it could help their 20x10 plan https://www.38north.org/2024/08/north-koreas-regional-development-the-long-journey-toward-20x10-policy/ https://www.38north.org/2024/08/north-koreas-regional-develo...

Mountain_Skies 2y ago

Going by my dad's constant repair bills for his BMW, saddling the North Korean regime with those could be good for diverting funds away from their more unsavory endeavors.

throw-qqqqq 2y ago
This made me laugh :D