It’s not just missiles and politics crossing the North Korea–Russia border. Now, bottles of North Korean beer are finding their way onto Russian shelves — though at a price tag that has some locals raising eyebrows.
According to Russian outlet RBC, Far East importer Vostok-Energya began distributing beer from North Korea’s Rason region in mid-August. The brand, called “Tumen River 11,” is available in two styles — a Light Lager and a Dark Stout — each sold in 0.5-litre bottles priced at 160 rubles (about USD 2).
CEO Stanislav Bushik said the beers are already on sale in Primorsky Krai, Yakutia, and Khabarovsk, with plans to expand into Siberia, central, and southern Russia.
The launch follows last year’s signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow, which has accelerated bilateral ties. Observers expect more North Korean goods, including alcoholic beverages, to appear in Russia after the brand “My Hometown” applied for trademark registration.
“Tumen River Beer” is a project personally ordered — and named — by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Its brewery in Rason’s Pioneertown district was completed in December 2020.
In China, the beer is already being sold on Taobao, advertised with an original wort concentration of 11°P and alcohol content of 3.9%. Reports in Russia’s Life News say the beer is brewed with local water, North Korean malt, and Czech hops using modern equipment.
Yet the beer’s packaging has drawn attention of its own. Some bottles appear to be recycled Tsingtao bottles from China. A blogger who visited North Korea in March filmed Tumen River beer being served in glassware still bearing the Chinese characters for “Tsingtao Beer” and faint English lettering of the brand on the back — evidence, experts say, of Pyongyang’s habit of reusing imported bottles.
Still, the Russian industry is not overly impressed.
“In capacity, quality and variety, Russian beer is in no way inferior,” said Oleg Nikolaev, co-founder of the Sevastopol Wine Cultivation and Manufacturing Association, in an interview with TASS.
He also questioned the higher price point, almost double that of domestic labels:
“Russian supermarkets handle more beer than most EU liquor stores,” he said, expressing confidence in the competitiveness of Russian beer.
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