Nation bans two menu items in latest crackdown on outside influence

The most isolated planet on earth has ushered in one of its most bizarre rules yet in its draconian crackdown on all things foreign.

In the latest crackdown on apparently harmful foreign influences, North Korea has banned the sale of two popular dishes — tteokbokki and budae-jjigae — citing their “South Korean origins”.

The bizarre move is part of the regime’s ongoing efforts to suppress what it views as decadent, capitalist culture infiltrating the country. It is a battle the Kim dynasty has waged for decades in its push to remain the most isolated nation on the planet.

Tteokbokki, a spicy rice cake dish, and budae-jjigae, a stew with hot dogs and ramen noodles, have become popular in North Korean restaurants in recent years, especially since 2017, when they were introduced by Chinese-run businesses.

Outside influences, especially those hailing from the South, are met with brutal consequences for those indulging.

The street food staples in South Korea are seen as luxuries in the North, where they were previously available in select restaurants and food courts.

A street food vendor prepares tteokbokki, or simmered rice cake, for customers in Busan, South Korea.

The bizarre move is part of the regime’s ongoing efforts to suppress what it views as decadent, capitalist culture infiltrating the country.

A source from Ryanggang Province revealed to Radio Free Asia that the sale of both dishes has been entirely banned, with authorities threatening to shut down businesses that disobey.

“People are well aware that the sale of tteokbokki and budae-jjigae is prohibited because they are South Korean foods,” the merchant said.

Budae Jjigae, a stew with hot dogs and ramen noodles, have become popular in North Korea in recent years.

The crackdown is not limited to Ryanggang, with reports confirming the ban extends nationwide, including in the capital of Pyongyang.

North Korean officials have yet to explain why tteokbokki and budae-jjigae have been singled out, but many believe it’s a response to the increasing spread of South Korean culture, which has been smuggled into the North via underground media channels.

Activists in the South have regularly sent balloons carrying everything from outside news reports to USB sticks loaded with Squid Game into the country.

Those efforts have been met with strong retaliation, including the recent trash balloon fiasco which saw several tonnes of rubbish flown over to land in Seoul.

There’s not much you can do in North Korea without raising suspicion. Every visit is heavily stage-managed by the authorities to make sure the Kim dynasty and its draconian military state are respected at all times.

Even folding a newspaper with the dictator’s picture on it can land you in strife.

Travel to the North has become an increasingly intimidating prospect in the years following the tragic Otto Warmbier incident, where the US student was jailed after allegedly ripping a propaganda poster off a wall. He was released from prison in a vegetative state, and died soon after.

But daring travellers eager for a glimpse of the fascinatingly macabre authoritarian state now have an opportunity to take guided tours once more, with tour operators announcing North Korea will open its border to foreign tourists in December after almost five years.

Tourism to the North was limited before the pandemic, with tour companies saying around 5000 Western tourists visited each year.