Despite a property price buzz in Dandong resulting from détente surrounding the Korean peninsula, North Korea-linked businesses in the city are in a mixed state, sources told NK Pro this week.

While some North Korea-themed restaurants were pictured thriving in May photos, others were shown to be completely shuttered.

And paradoxically it is the property buzz – which Chinese media has said has seen prices in Dandong nearly double – that could be leading to problems for some of the DPRK-linked businesses.

“Just recently I’ve noticed a lot of closures of North Korean