Phnom Penh: The Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia has completely rejected a report published by NK News on Feb. 26 suspecting that a company from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) is engaging in commercial activities by openly promoting its control of overseas joint venture restaurants located in China and Cambodia.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the ministry clarified in a statement received this evening that there is no business registration for the company named Tongnam Trading Company or Tongnam Transport JV Co., Ltd. Furthermore, the ministry’s team conducted research at Korean product markets in the capital city of Phnom Penh and found no business activities related to North Korean entities.

The Ministry of Commerce emphasized its strict adherence to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and existing Cambodian regulations by delisting and shutting down 16 North Korean-related companies in 2019 and 2022. The statement reaffirmed the ministry’s continued close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and other relevant ministries and institutions to enforce various sanctions as outlined in the UNSC resolutions.