The Global Times reported that there is no truth to the alleged banning of Chinese products in North Korea, citing statements from witnesses who are Chinese people based in the region.
On Monday, South Korea-based news outlet The Korea Times published an article saying that the North Korean government has prohibited its residents from "using products imported from China since December, and authorities have been monitoring their use of Chinese goods, cracking down on people in the streets."
Zhou Zhiran, a Pyongyang-based People's Daily correspondent, told the Global Times that it would be "impossible" for such thing to happen, noting that "most of North Korea's daily products, food and cars are imported from China."
"At many shops in Pyongyang, I found that Chinese products continue to be sold and nothing has changed," Zhou further shared.
The correspondent also revealed that many Chinese people living in North Korea told him that they have not received any information or news about the ban, nor have they observed any changes.
Moreover, Zhou said that Chinese products are rather very popular and competitive in the North Korean market. He cited the items' good quality and features that come at affordable prices.
Zhou also noted that amid the emergence of locally made products in the North Korean market, the country still imports majority of its goods from other countries, including Russia and China.
Echoing Zhou's sentiments, Lu Rui, a Pyongyang-based Xinhua News Agency correspondent, noted that the banning will unlikely take place as China remains North Korea's biggest trading partner.
"I have seen many made-in-China products when I visited a Pyongyang resident this year, including an electric cooker, range hood and cooking oil," Lu told the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV.