By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea is seeking to reopen its state-run restaurants in Chinese cities near the border amid rapidly improving relations, according to sources familiar with the matter.
They said the restaurants in China's northeastern provinces including Liaoning were closed for months as China joined international sanctions against North Korea, but are now preparing to resume business.
"Interior renovation work was under way recently at the Reungrado Restaurant in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, which the Chinese authorities ordered to close for the past five months," a source said. "Its shutters have been opened recently and a pile of cement bags apparently linked to renovation work was seen at its entrance."
Refrigerators and other restaurant equipment were also seen, the source said.
A different source said the Ryukyung Restaurant, the largest North Korean establishment in Dandong, Liaoning Province, resumed business in late April, a month after Kim first met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In Shenyang, the Chilbosan Hotel, a North Korean-Chinese joint venture that was closed on Jan. 9, is also preparing to reopen.
Kim met Xi three times from March to June in what were seen as moves to win support from China over the North's reconciliation with the United States.
Kim held a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore, June 12.
