While a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ri-yong-ho-north-korean-foreign-minister-replaced-sources-275106">North Korean</a> deadline for the United States to soften its stand on denuclerisation talks passed uneventfully over the New Year, state media and propaganda efforts have been focussing on the prospect of a long confrontation with the United States.

Optimism that two years of contacts between leader Kim Jong Un and US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-will-not-lift-sanctions-to-negotiate-with-iran-donald-trump-276694">Donald Trump</a> would usher in a new age, and related hopes for economic improvement after decades of deprivation, appear to have faded.

Instead, the government has been hard at work in recent weeks using state media, propaganda posters, and performances to warn the public of a bumpy road ahead under US&nbsp;and international pressure.

The propaganda effort has included calls for North Koreans to "breakthrough barriers" and strengthen the country.

The weekend's Lunar New Year celebrations included a concert for Kim and other dignitaries with tributes to the country's leaders for overcoming adversity.

It is a familiar message for North Koreans, but one that now underscores that the leadership does not foresee a breakthrough in diplomacy any time soon.

"The message will be that because of the US&nbsp;hostile policy and sanctions, that things will be more difficult for the foreseeable future," said Andray Abrahamian, a visiting scholar with George Mason University Korea.

Behind the scenes, North Korean officials still say they are seeking badly needed sanctions relief, said one European scholar who regularly attends informal meetings with North Korean representatives.

Publicly, North Korea has said it is no longer bound by commitments to halt nuclear and missile testing, blaming the United States for failing to meet the year-end deadline for it to show more flexibility in the nuclear talks and its "brutal and inhumane" sanctions.

Since Kim came to power in 2011, many North Koreans have steadily seen living conditions improve compared with deprivation and even famines of the 1990s.

In 2018, Kim doubled down by declaring the "completion" of the nuclear weapons programme would allow the government to focus on economic development.

But the failure to win sanctions relief is putting Kim in a sensitive spot.

"In 2012, Kim promised that there would be no more belt-tightening, so for him to call on the country to prepare for exactly that sends a very clear message," Abrahamian said.

"Most North Koreans have seen their economic prospects improve under <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/iran-crisis-test-drives-fundaments-of-donald-trumps-foreign-policy-276519">Kim Jong Un</a> so I’m sure this is a worrying time for them."

The propaganda push is designed to support a line Kim set out in a speech at the end of last year calling for North Koreans to brace for an “arduous and prolonged struggle” and to foster a self-reliant economy because of a delay in the anticipated lifting of sanctions, analysts said.

Kim used that speech to acknowledge North Korea may need to "tighten our belts" for the time being.

But state media and propaganda have not yet widely pushed that line widely, likely in part because of Kim's past promises, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, an analyst with NK News, a website that monitors North Korea.

"It is a controversial term and North Korea will likely roll it out very subtly and carefully," she said.

The final months of 2019 saw senior officials warning the United States not to ignore its threat of a "new way" if it did not offer more concessions in talks aimed at getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons.

Beyond a warning from Kim that the world would soon see a "new strategic weapon", however, the deadline passed uneventfully.

Since then, the North's state media has been ominously quiet on the issue of talks with the United States.

"I have a feeling they're biding their time to roll out some changes to their foreign policy, including US policy, and North Korea may make its intentions clearer as it gets closer to the showcasing of its 'new strategic weapon'," Lee said.

While a North Korean deadline for the United States to soften its stand on denuclerisation talks passed uneventfully over the New Year, state media and propaganda efforts have been focussing on the prospect of a long confrontation with the United States.

While a North Korean deadline for the United States to soften its stand on denuclerisation talks passed uneventfully over the New Year, state media and propaganda efforts have been focussing on the prospect of a long confrontation with the United States. Optimism that two years of contacts between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump would usher in a new age, and related hopes for economic improvement after decades of deprivation, appear to have faded. Instead, the government has been hard at work in recent weeks using state media, propaganda posters, and performances to warn the public of a bumpy road ahead under US and international pressure. The propaganda effort has included calls for North Koreans to "breakthrough barriers" and strengthen the country. The weekend's Lunar New Year celebrations included a concert for Kim and other dignitaries with tributes to the country's leaders for overcoming adversity. It is a familiar message for North Koreans, but one that now underscores that the leadership does not foresee a breakthrough in diplomacy any time soon. "The message will be that because of the US hostile policy and sanctions, that things will be more difficult for the foreseeable future," said Andray Abrahamian, a visiting scholar with George Mason University Korea. Behind the scenes, North Korean officials still say they are seeking badly needed sanctions relief, said one European scholar who regularly attends informal meetings with North Korean representatives. Publicly, North Korea has said it is no longer bound by commitments to halt nuclear and missile testing, blaming the United States for failing to meet the year-end deadline for it to show more flexibility in the nuclear talks and its "brutal and inhumane" sanctions. Since Kim came to power in 2011, many North Koreans have steadily seen living conditions improve compared with deprivation and even famines of the 1990s. In 2018, Kim doubled down by declaring the "completion" of the nuclear weapons programme would allow the government to focus on economic development. But the failure to win sanctions relief is putting Kim in a sensitive spot. "In 2012, Kim promised that there would be no more belt-tightening, so for him to call on the country to prepare for exactly that sends a very clear message," Abrahamian said. "Most North Koreans have seen their economic prospects improve under Kim Jong Un so I’m sure this is a worrying time for them." The propaganda push is designed to support a line Kim set out in a speech at the end of last year calling for North Koreans to brace for an “arduous and prolonged struggle” and to foster a self-reliant economy because of a delay in the anticipated lifting of sanctions, analysts said. Kim used that speech to acknowledge North Korea may need to "tighten our belts" for the time being. But state media and propaganda have not yet widely pushed that line widely, likely in part because of Kim's past promises, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, an analyst with NK News, a website that monitors North Korea. "It is a controversial term and North Korea will likely roll it out very subtly and carefully," she said. The final months of 2019 saw senior officials warning the United States not to ignore its threat of a "new way" if it did not offer more concessions in talks aimed at getting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons. Beyond a warning from Kim that the world would soon see a "new strategic weapon", however, the deadline passed uneventfully. Since then, the North's state media has been ominously quiet on the issue of talks with the United States. "I have a feeling they're biding their time to roll out some changes to their foreign policy, including US policy, and North Korea may make its intentions clearer as it gets closer to the showcasing of its 'new strategic weapon'," Lee said.

North Korea urges citizens to 'break through barriers' as nuclear standoff continues

The United States and North Korea plan to hold <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/what-latest-defection-tells-us-about-hopes-for-peace-on-korean-peninsula-189130">high-level talks in Washington</a> this week to discuss a second summit of their leaders, following a prolonged stalemate in nuclear talks, a South Korean newspaper said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The meeting, led by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol, would happen on Thursday or Friday, the Chosun Ilbo said, citing an unnamed diplomatic source familiar with the talks.

Both sides are expected to finalise the date and location of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-discusses-expected-summit-with-trump-in-talks-in-china-report-189075">second summit</a> between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and the North`s envoy is likely to meet Trump, the paper said.&nbsp;

There was no immediate comment from the White House. Asked about the report, a State Department official said, "We don`t have any meetings to announce."

If confirmed, this week`s meeting could mean the two sides are nearing a compromise after a months-long standoff over how to move forward in ending North Korea`s nuclear and missile programmes.

Pompeo, who made several trips to Pyongyang last year, sought to meet his counterpart last November, but the talks were called off at the last minute.&nbsp;

Contact was resumed after Kim`s New Year`s speech, in which he said he was willing to meet Trump "at any time," South Korea`s ambassador to the United States, Cho Yoon-je, told reporters last week.&nbsp;

Interim measures

Washington and Seoul have been discussing potential US measures to reciprocate North Korea`s possible steps toward denuclearisation, such as dismantling the Yongbyon main nuclear complex or intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) aimed at the United States, South Korean officials told Reuters.&nbsp;

The United States is considering partially easing sanctions in exchange for the North`s discarding and sending abroad its ICBMs, in addition to a freeze in its nuclear programme, the Chosun Ilbo said, citing the source.&nbsp;

Potential US corresponding action also includes exemptions from sanctions for inter-Korean business and tour ventures and opening a liaison office as a prelude to a formal launch of diplomatic relations, Seoul officials said.&nbsp;

"Those ideas are being discussed as interim measures, not as an end state, in order to expedite the denuclearisation process because the North wouldn`t respond to any demand for a declaration of facilities and weapons," a senior South Korean official said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.&nbsp;

"The end goal remains unchanged, whether it be complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation, or final, fully verified denuclearisation."&nbsp;

The official said a second summit between Trump and Kim might happen in late February or early March, though "No one knows what Trump is thinking."

Kim renewed his resolve to meet Trump again during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week.

Trump also said this month he had received a "great" letter from Kim and would probably meet him again in the not-too-distant future.&nbsp;

"At the second summit, they`ll probably focus on reaching a possible interim deal rather than a comprehensive roadmap for denuclearisation," said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at South Korea`s Sejong Institute.&nbsp;

"Whether Pyongyang is willing to abolish ICBMs, in addition to disabling the Yongbyon complex, would be key, and if so, the North will likely demand sanctions relief in return."

The United States and North Korea plan to hold high-level talks in Washington this week to discuss a second summit of their leaders, following a prolonged stalemate in nuclear talks, a South Korean newspaper said on Tuesday.

The United States and North Korea plan to hold high-level talks in Washington this week to discuss a second summit of their leaders, following a prolonged stalemate in nuclear talks, a South Korean newspaper said on Tuesday. The meeting, led by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol, would happen on Thursday or Friday, the Chosun Ilbo said, citing an unnamed diplomatic source familiar with the talks. Both sides are expected to finalise the date and location of a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and the North`s envoy is likely to meet Trump, the paper said. There was no immediate comment from the White House. Asked about the report, a State Department official said, "We don`t have any meetings to announce." If confirmed, this week`s meeting could mean the two sides are nearing a compromise after a months-long standoff over how to move forward in ending North Korea`s nuclear and missile programmes. Pompeo, who made several trips to Pyongyang last year, sought to meet his counterpart last November, but the talks were called off at the last minute. Contact was resumed after Kim`s New Year`s speech, in which he said he was willing to meet Trump "at any time," South Korea`s ambassador to the United States, Cho Yoon-je, told reporters last week. Interim measures Washington and Seoul have been discussing potential US measures to reciprocate North Korea`s possible steps toward denuclearisation, such as dismantling the Yongbyon main nuclear complex or intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) aimed at the United States, South Korean officials told Reuters. The United States is considering partially easing sanctions in exchange for the North`s discarding and sending abroad its ICBMs, in addition to a freeze in its nuclear programme, the Chosun Ilbo said, citing the source. Potential US corresponding action also includes exemptions from sanctions for inter-Korean business and tour ventures and opening a liaison office as a prelude to a formal launch of diplomatic relations, Seoul officials said. "Those ideas are being discussed as interim measures, not as an end state, in order to expedite the denuclearisation process because the North wouldn`t respond to any demand for a declaration of facilities and weapons," a senior South Korean official said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. "The end goal remains unchanged, whether it be complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation, or final, fully verified denuclearisation." The official said a second summit between Trump and Kim might happen in late February or early March, though "No one knows what Trump is thinking." Kim renewed his resolve to meet Trump again during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week. Trump also said this month he had received a "great" letter from Kim and would probably meet him again in the not-too-distant future. "At the second summit, they`ll probably focus on reaching a possible interim deal rather than a comprehensive roadmap for denuclearisation," said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at South Korea`s Sejong Institute. "Whether Pyongyang is willing to abolish ICBMs, in addition to disabling the Yongbyon complex, would be key, and if so, the North will likely demand sanctions relief in return."

US, North Korea to hold talks this week after nuclear standoff: Report

North Korean officials have toured China to discuss economic development. Speculators are snapping up property along their common border. And South Korea is studying ways to boost engagement with its isolated neighbour to the north.

Across the region, there are signs that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's campaign of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons is weakening ahead of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday.

Trump, along with leaders like South Korea's President Moon Jae-in, have credited the pressure campaign with bringing Kim to the negotiating table through a combination of international sanctions, political isolation, and threats of military action.

However, unless there is a major provocation or resumption of nuclear testing or missile launches by North Korea, strategists and academics say it is unlikely that maximum pressure will ever fully return.

"Trump's campaign is over," said Kim Hyun-wook, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. "The diplomatic openings with North Korea have already been taking a toll on the maximum pressure campaign."

Trump has himself said he doesn't want to use the term "maximum pressure" any more because of improving relations with North Korea.

Joseph Yun, the United States' former top negotiator with North Korea, told a Senate hearing on Tuesday: "Practically it is not possible to continue maximum pressure when you're talking with your adversary. I don't think you can have serious engagement as well as maximum pressure."

Preparations are already underway in China, South Korea and Russia, which share land borders with North Korea, for better ties with the isolated nation.

Officials from South Korea visited a shuttered joint economic project in Kaesong, North Korea, on Friday, part of a government effort to prepare for a possible easing of sanctions.

Although they are wary of rushing into an unpredictable political situation, South Korean businesses representatives and North Korea experts gathered at a conference in Seoul on Thursday to discuss potential inter-Korean cooperation.

"From a company's perspective, that (maximum pressure campaign) may be gone this time, given the North-US summit is happening soon and Kim Jong Un's will to develop the country's economy is visible," an official from a major South Korean construction firm told Reuters on the sidelines the conference, asking to remain unnamed as he was not authorised to speak publicly.

Renewed ties

Along China's border with North Korea, speculators are buying land and traders are stockpiling cheap North Korean coal amid hopes that restrictions will soon be lifted.

"It'll be good if North Korea opens up," said a hat seller in the border city of Dandong, who only gave her name as Yang. "The people there are so poor, it's like China in the 1980s."

She said the number of North Koreans shopping in the city had dropped in recent months after the sanctions were tightened. But now, she said, property prices in Dandong were being driven up by speculators betting that trade would revive.

Other local people in Dandong said North Korean workers were returning, prompting the opening of some restaurants and hotels.

The owner of one Korean restaurant was training staff on presenting a new menu in preparation for more visitors from other parts of China, including people intending to visit North Korea.

The Liuji Restaurant, which was shut after its owner was investigated in 2016 for dealings with North Korea, reopened in March after Kim's visit to China, his first trip out of the country since taking office.

It was not clear what happened to the investigations or who the new owner was.

The restaurant's North Korean staff explained the closing as "renovations."

On June 5, state carrier Air China announced it would resume regular flights between Beijing and Pyongyang, which officials had indefinitely suspended in November, citing poor demand.

Although the first Air China flight had only around 20 passengers, tour operators said busloads of Chinese tourists were in Pyongyang, their numbers surging in recent weeks because of the lowered tensions.

"I went to the train station (in Pyongyang) and it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it," said the founder of the Dandong-based INDPRK tour company, who goes by the name Griffin Che. "I'd guess about 100 Chinese tourists arrived by train today. In the past I would see a maximum of 30-40 tourists."

Che said the prospect of new economic opportunities in North Korea has him interested in branching out beyond tourism into investment and coal trading.

US&nbsp;lawmakers have raised concerns that traders in China are already skirting sanctions, but Beijing-based diplomats say that there is no evidence that China is abandoning its UN&nbsp;Security Council commitments.

Political isolation

Diplomats say all the major players, including Russia, China, and South Korea, are expected to continue to enforce the letter of any United Nations sanctions. Beyond sanctions, US&nbsp;officials say they successfully persuaded more than 20 countries to downgrade or end diplomatic ties with North Korea.

Some of that political isolation has been reduced, however, by Kim Jong Un's meetings with leaders of China and South Korea, and this week's summit with Trump.

At the end of May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov landed the first meeting between a Russian official and Kim as head of state, and extended an invitation for the North Korean leader to visit Russia.

Russia has long been sceptical of the sanctions regime, and South Korea's Moon has proposed a three-way study on potential joint projects, including railways, gas and power linking Siberia to the Korean peninsula.

"Even if the summit fails and US-North Korea tensions resurface, Russia is unlikely to support new rounds of sanctions on North Korea," said Artyom Lukin, a professor at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok.

"If previously adopted UN&nbsp;sanctions continue to be in effect, Russia will abide by them, but it will probably find some legal ways and loopholes to make their enforcement as mild as possible."

Kim has met Chinese President Xi Jinping two times in recent months and analysts say Beijing's willingness to maintain last year's level of pressure on North Korea is waning.

Business as normal

Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also visited Pyongyang on Thursday, to discuss preparations for the summit.

He later told reporters: "If a breakthrough is achieved during the summit in Singapore, if peace comes, there will be a bountiful harvest. Primarily of course, with the Korean peninsula but also the rest of us, including Singapore as well."

Across Southeast Asia, many countries took steps to curtail or completely end most major trade with Pyongyang last year, but in some cases state-owned North Korean restaurants have continued to operate, potentially supplying Pyongyang with a trickle of cash.

Two North Korean restaurants in Jakarta have shut down.

In Vietnam, two North Korean restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City closed in October last year, but there is still one in Hanoi, owned by a Vietnamese businessman who also runs a shipping company.

The country's once-close ties with North Korea have been strained over North Korea's alleged use of a Vietnamese citizen in the assassination of Kim Jong Un's half brother, Kim Jong Nam, in Kuala Lumpur in February last year.

In March, Vietnam filed a report to the United Nations in which the country said it has "always fully implemented" sanctions on North Korea.

In response to US&nbsp;pressure, Thailand said annual trade with North Korea fell by 94 percent, although some North Korean businesses have continued to operate in the country, including two restaurants in Bangkok.

At the Pyongyang Haemaji Restaurant, North Korean waitress Pak Il Sim said tables were routinely full of customers, most of them Japanese.

When asked if the restaurant had come under pressure from Thai authorities to close, she said: "No, business as normal". 
&nbsp;

Across the region, there are signs that US President Donald Trump's campaign of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons is weakening ahead of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday

North Korean officials have toured China to discuss economic development. Speculators are snapping up property along their common border. And South Korea is studying ways to boost engagement with its isolated neighbour to the north. Across the region, there are signs that US President Donald Trump's campaign of "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons is weakening ahead of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on Tuesday. Trump, along with leaders like South Korea's President Moon Jae-in, have credited the pressure campaign with bringing Kim to the negotiating table through a combination of international sanctions, political isolation, and threats of military action. However, unless there is a major provocation or resumption of nuclear testing or missile launches by North Korea, strategists and academics say it is unlikely that maximum pressure will ever fully return. "Trump's campaign is over," said Kim Hyun-wook, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. "The diplomatic openings with North Korea have already been taking a toll on the maximum pressure campaign." Trump has himself said he doesn't want to use the term "maximum pressure" any more because of improving relations with North Korea. Joseph Yun, the United States' former top negotiator with North Korea, told a Senate hearing on Tuesday: "Practically it is not possible to continue maximum pressure when you're talking with your adversary. I don't think you can have serious engagement as well as maximum pressure." Preparations are already underway in China, South Korea and Russia, which share land borders with North Korea, for better ties with the isolated nation. Officials from South Korea visited a shuttered joint economic project in Kaesong, North Korea, on Friday, part of a government effort to prepare for a possible easing of sanctions. Although they are wary of rushing into an unpredictable political situation, South Korean businesses representatives and North Korea experts gathered at a conference in Seoul on Thursday to discuss potential inter-Korean cooperation. "From a company's perspective, that (maximum pressure campaign) may be gone this time, given the North-US summit is happening soon and Kim Jong Un's will to develop the country's economy is visible," an official from a major South Korean construction firm told Reuters on the sidelines the conference, asking to remain unnamed as he was not authorised to speak publicly. Renewed ties Along China's border with North Korea, speculators are buying land and traders are stockpiling cheap North Korean coal amid hopes that restrictions will soon be lifted. "It'll be good if North Korea opens up," said a hat seller in the border city of Dandong, who only gave her name as Yang. "The people there are so poor, it's like China in the 1980s." She said the number of North Koreans shopping in the city had dropped in recent months after the sanctions were tightened. But now, she said, property prices in Dandong were being driven up by speculators betting that trade would revive. Other local people in Dandong said North Korean workers were returning, prompting the opening of some restaurants and hotels. The owner of one Korean restaurant was training staff on presenting a new menu in preparation for more visitors from other parts of China, including people intending to visit North Korea. The Liuji Restaurant, which was shut after its owner was investigated in 2016 for dealings with North Korea, reopened in March after Kim's visit to China, his first trip out of the country since taking office. It was not clear what happened to the investigations or who the new owner was. The restaurant's North Korean staff explained the closing as "renovations." On June 5, state carrier Air China announced it would resume regular flights between Beijing and Pyongyang, which officials had indefinitely suspended in November, citing poor demand. Although the first Air China flight had only around 20 passengers, tour operators said busloads of Chinese tourists were in Pyongyang, their numbers surging in recent weeks because of the lowered tensions. "I went to the train station (in Pyongyang) and it was the busiest I’ve ever seen it," said the founder of the Dandong-based INDPRK tour company, who goes by the name Griffin Che. "I'd guess about 100 Chinese tourists arrived by train today. In the past I would see a maximum of 30-40 tourists." Che said the prospect of new economic opportunities in North Korea has him interested in branching out beyond tourism into investment and coal trading. US lawmakers have raised concerns that traders in China are already skirting sanctions, but Beijing-based diplomats say that there is no evidence that China is abandoning its UN Security Council commitments. Political isolation Diplomats say all the major players, including Russia, China, and South Korea, are expected to continue to enforce the letter of any United Nations sanctions. Beyond sanctions, US officials say they successfully persuaded more than 20 countries to downgrade or end diplomatic ties with North Korea. Some of that political isolation has been reduced, however, by Kim Jong Un's meetings with leaders of China and South Korea, and this week's summit with Trump. At the end of May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov landed the first meeting between a Russian official and Kim as head of state, and extended an invitation for the North Korean leader to visit Russia. Russia has long been sceptical of the sanctions regime, and South Korea's Moon has proposed a three-way study on potential joint projects, including railways, gas and power linking Siberia to the Korean peninsula. "Even if the summit fails and US-North Korea tensions resurface, Russia is unlikely to support new rounds of sanctions on North Korea," said Artyom Lukin, a professor at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok. "If previously adopted UN sanctions continue to be in effect, Russia will abide by them, but it will probably find some legal ways and loopholes to make their enforcement as mild as possible." Kim has met Chinese President Xi Jinping two times in recent months and analysts say Beijing's willingness to maintain last year's level of pressure on North Korea is waning. Business as normal Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan also visited Pyongyang on Thursday, to discuss preparations for the summit. He later told reporters: "If a breakthrough is achieved during the summit in Singapore, if peace comes, there will be a bountiful harvest. Primarily of course, with the Korean peninsula but also the rest of us, including Singapore as well." Across Southeast Asia, many countries took steps to curtail or completely end most major trade with Pyongyang last year, but in some cases state-owned North Korean restaurants have continued to operate, potentially supplying Pyongyang with a trickle of cash. Two North Korean restaurants in Jakarta have shut down. In Vietnam, two North Korean restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City closed in October last year, but there is still one in Hanoi, owned by a Vietnamese businessman who also runs a shipping company. The country's once-close ties with North Korea have been strained over North Korea's alleged use of a Vietnamese citizen in the assassination of Kim Jong Un's half brother, Kim Jong Nam, in Kuala Lumpur in February last year. In March, Vietnam filed a report to the United Nations in which the country said it has "always fully implemented" sanctions on North Korea. In response to US pressure, Thailand said annual trade with North Korea fell by 94 percent, although some North Korean businesses have continued to operate in the country, including two restaurants in Bangkok. At the Pyongyang Haemaji Restaurant, North Korean waitress Pak Il Sim said tables were routinely full of customers, most of them Japanese. When asked if the restaurant had come under pressure from Thai authorities to close, she said: "No, business as normal".

Analysis: Trump may struggle to isolate North Korea again

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