North Korea’s Secret Wine Trade: How Kim Jong-un’s Regime Became a Major Wine Buyer

It’s one of the world’s most secretive and isolated regimes, yet North Korea has emerged as an unlikely destination for China wine exports.

According to newly released Chinese customs data, North Korea imported US$710,376 worth of wine from China in 2024, making it one of the top buyers of Chinese bottled wine. The country ranked second in volume among China’s export destinations, importing 233,245 liters, trailing only Hong Kong. In value, it placed fourth, behind Hong Kong, France, and Macau.

The figures reveal a sharp drop from 2023, when North Korea’s wine imports from China surged to 459,996 liters and US$2.15 million, a 217% and 169.87% year-on-year increase, respectively. The abrupt rise and subsequent decline raise questions about why a nation under strict international sanctions is importing large quantities of wine—and who is drinking it.

Why Is North Korea Importing So Much Wine?

Unlike the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, which have banned luxury goods exports to North Korea—including alcoholic beverages—China has not imposed similar restrictions, according to South Korean media reports. This has made China a crucial supplier of wine and spirits to North Korea’s ruling elite, even as sanctions tighten elsewhere.

It remains unclear whether the wine exported to North Korea is produced in China or foreign wine re-exported through Chinese middlemen. The Guangdong Alcohol Industry Association has previously noted that many foreign wines reach North Korea through China. A 2022 report from the association stated that most of the wine and spirits exported to North Korea originate from South America and Europe and are shipped from bonded zones in Liaoning province.

A Market for the Elite, Not the Masses

North Korea is one of the world’s poorest and most isolated economies, with much of its population facing chronic food shortages. Given these conditions, industry analysts say it is unlikely that imported wine is widely available to ordinary North Koreans. Instead, the purchases appear to cater to the country’s political elite.

Wine Searcher previously reported that North Korean users regularly search for wine information on its platform. While they browse mid-range Bordeaux wines priced around US$20, they also frequently look up high-end labels like Pétrus and Château Margaux. The site noted that given North Korea’s tight internet restrictions, the 30-plus monthly searches likely come from Kim Jong-un’s inner circle or top government officials.

Kim Jong-un’s Taste for Fine Wine and Dining

Despite tight control over his private life, Kim Jong-un has long been associated with a taste for luxury food and wine.

During the 2019 U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi, Australian chef Paul Smart, who oversaw the event’s catering, revealed Kim was highly particular about food quality and preparation methods. The North Korean leader personally selected premium North Korean beef for a meal shared with then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

Kim had medium-rare to rare, very rare,” he told AFP. “And Trump had well done.”Smart said. “Kim wanted the natural flavors of the meat to stand out.”

Wine has long been a favorite among North Korea’s ruling family. Kim’s former personal chef Kenji Fujimoto has said that Kim inherited his father’s taste for Bordeaux wine and Cognac, consistent with Wine Searcher’s data on North Korean wine searches. Fujimoto also recalled that Kim often shared expensive Bordeaux wines at banquets and reportedly has a particular fondness for Champagne, drinking two bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne per meal.

Sanctions and North Korea’s Wine Supply Challenges

Kim’s penchant for high-end wine has faced growing obstacles due to tightening international sanctions.

While the United Nations’ 2016 sanctions on North Korea (Resolution 2270) do not explicitly ban wine exports, many countries have imposed their own restrictions. The European Union expanded its sanctions in 2017 to include wine, Champagne, beer, and sake among 22 banned luxury items, making it difficult for North Korea to source fine wines directly from European suppliers.

China, however, has not implemented similar restrictions. In February 2024, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that China supports continued exchanges and cooperation with North Korea across various sectors. As North Korea faces increasing difficulties in securing wine through other channels, China remains one of its most accessible suppliers.