Despite a lack of sanctions relief, South Korea-based companies are researching North Korea opportunities

Over two dozen South Korean companies have launched dedicated task forces to research and analyze emerging business opportunities in North Korea, research by NK Pro since April shows.

Despite a slew of multilateral and unilateral sanctions prohibiting the vast majority of trade with North Korea, 25 South Korean companies from a wide range of sectors – including some of the nation’s leading household names – have since January launched North Korea-focused teams.

For some, the inter-Korean summit of April 27 played a catalytic role, with South Korea’s three biggest conglomerates – Samsung Securities, Lotte, and Hyundai – all taking