Pyongyang gets its first new sushi restaurant in a decade

There's good news for foodies in DPRK with cash to spare: Pyongyang has a new sushi restaurant, the first one to open in at least a decade.

The eatery has seating for 100-plus people. Its grand opening was announced Sept. 6 by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Prices and types of fish on offer were not disclosed.

The latest hotspot in the hermit nation's capital features counter seating, tables, private rooms as well as conveyor-belt sushi on the second floor.

Such ventures have proved popular in the past but failed due to problems securing good quality fresh fish and keeping catches cool in the face of power blackouts.

As part of sanctions imposed by Japan over DPRK's nuclear and missile development programs, DPRK's ships are banned from making port calls in Japan. This primarily affects the Man Gyong Bong-92 cargo-passenger ferry, which can transport frozen tuna.

Yet even the harsh economic climate cannot kill off the popularity of the dish in DPRK--even if the sushi does come at a hefty price.

For example, residents have continued enjoying sushi for special occasions at a whopping $10 per serving, mainly through delivery services run as side businesses of people of DPRK who used to live in Japan.

That would probably destroy rather than burn a hole in the pocket of the average people of theDPRK.

According to sources with connections to DPRK, decent sushi used to be more widely available in Pyongyang through restaurants in such locations as the basement level of Koryo Hotel and near Pyongyang Station.

But with the nation facing numerous economic problems, these establishments gradually disappeared over the past 20 years or so.

The big question is: Can it continue to get a steady supply of fresh fish.

(THE ASAHI SHIMBUN)