The annual event is held on North Korea border. Pyongyang asked Taiwanese companies to come in order to showcase its labour force. Taipei never ended trade relations with the North.

Dandong (AsiaNews) - Taiwanese companies are taking part in a trade fair in Dandong (China) along with North Korea for the first time. The big Chinese city is located near the border of North Korea and North Korean officials asked the Taiwanese companies to take part hoping they would interested in North Korea as a source of cheap labour.

At the fair, six small Taiwanese companies were selling items such as electronic equipment, cosmetics, bicycles and tea at the event. Twenty more Taiwanese restaurants were also doing business near the fair site.

According to the Taiwan-Korea Business Association, which has about 70 member companies, the decision to participate was made after North Korean officials asked the Taiwanese companies to take part.

North Korean labour "is inexpensive, but highly skilled," said a source in Taiwan involved in trade.

For North Koreans, working for Taiwan companies is the best experience for those involved with the outside world.

In fact, Taipei never completely cut off commercial relations with Pyongyang. There are currently about 100 Taiwanese companies in North Korea through Chinese intermediaries, exporting mainly chemical products and medical equipment.

 

• north
• korea
• taiwan
• china
• dandong
• trade
• fair