AKP Phnom Penh, February 27, 2025 --

The Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia has completely rejected a report published by NK News on Feb. 26 suspecting that a company from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is engaging in commercial activities by openly promoting its control of overseas joint venture restaurants located in China and Cambodia.

“There is no business registration for the company named Tongnam Trading Company or Tongnam Transport JV Co., Ltd,” the ministry clarified in a statement AKP received this evening.

Furthermore, it added, the ministry's team has conducted research at Korean product markets in the capital city of Phnom Penh and found no business activities related to North Korean entities.

“The Ministry of Commerce has always strictly complied with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and existing Cambodian regulations by delisting and shutting down 16 North Korean-related companies in 2019 and 2022,” read the statement.

The ministry also reaffirmed its continued close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other relevant ministries and institutions, to enforce various sanctions as outlined in the UNSC resolutions.

By C. Nika