Over 450 foreign companies attend N. Korea trade fair despite sanctions – report

An international trade fair in North Korea this week may be the largest such event on record, analysts said on Tuesday. The 22nd Pyongyang Spring International Trade Fair opened the previous day.

More than 450 companies from North Korea, China, Russia, Pakistan, Poland and “other countries and regions” showcased a range of products at the fair, KCNA said.

That number would make it the largest trade fair hosted by North Korea, according to an analysis by NK News, a website that tracks North Korean issues. Last year, 260 companies reportedly participated in the spring fair.

Sanctions imposed over Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons and missile programs would prohibit all joint ventures and most business with North Korea. Some foreign business operations have previously said they were only preparing the ground for when sanctions are lifted, according to Reuters.