Ethnic Chinese residents of North Korea buy Chongjin soy meat and fried tofu from local vendors. They then sell these foods across the border in China. This cross-border trade has boosted business for vendors in North Hamgyong province. A Daily NK source said ethnic Chinese traders now place large orders for soy meat rice and tofu rice.
Soy meat became widely consumed during the 1990s famine as a meat substitute. The Chongjin variety has a notably chewy texture. Tofu rice involves deep-fried tofu blocks stuffed with seasoned rice. This cross-border trade now includes both popular dishes.
Street food sales had weakened in recent years. Bulk orders from ethnic Chinese traders have provided a meaningful lift. Some vendors cannot even sell on certain days because they stay busy filling orders. The products reach Jilin and Liaoning provinces in China. Chinese traders and North Korean defectors buy the imported items.
A China-based source said North Korean soy meat and fried tofu taste richer than Chinese versions. Orders concentrate among vendors with strong quality reputations. Other vendors now scramble to find their own ethnic Chinese contacts. This cross-border trade represents a rare economic bridge between the two countries.
