Taedonggang Beer to go on sale in US this year?
UPDATE 1 (2011-4-22): Apparently extended/new sanctions announced by the Obama administration this week will not affect the import of Taedonggang Beer by Mr. Park. According to KBS:
Following the latest sanction passed by the Obama administration, the United States importation of the North Korean beer brand Taedonggang was in doubt.
But a U.S. State Department official said that individuals or companies who gained import permits for North Korean goods before the order passed can continue with importation.
The official added that the new directive does not affect any North Korean imports that have been approved by the United States government.
U.S.-based firm Korea Pyongyang Trading U.S. has been given the green light to import 400-thousand bottles of Taedonggang beer this June.
ORIGINAL POST (2011-3-6): According to the Korea Times:
The VOA also confirmed that the U.S. government last year authorized the import of a North Korean beer, called “Daedonggang”.
“I received the final authorization on Sept. 30,” said Steve Park, a U.S-based importer. The first 2,000-2,500 cases of beer will be on sale this summer.
Steve Park first gained notoriety trying to import North Korean soju to the US. He was also prosecuted for being an unregistered foreign agent. You can read about these stories here.
But I wish him all the best in this endeavor. Taedonggang beer tastes pretty good. It is a British lager after all.
Read the original story here:
N. Korean delegation to visit NY
Korea Times
Kim Se-jeong
3/4/2011
