Noodle dish helps to break ice at banquet

SEOUL: Long lines formed yesterday outside restaurants in South Korea’s capital serving Pyongyang-style cold noodles after the dish took on a starring role at a historic summit between the North and South Korean leaders.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un brought a batch of the noodles for a banquet yesterday, at the request of South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

“We’ve made efforts to bring Pyongyang naengmyeon all the way from Pyongyang,” Kim said in opening remarks at the summit, referring to the North Korean capital.

“So, hopefully, Mr President can enjoy Pyongyang naengmyeon from afar, though I suppose I mustn’t say ‘afar’ now.” Kim said with a chuckle.

Naengmyeon is noodles in a chilled meat broth, topped with beef brisket, pickled radish, sliced cucumbers and half a boiled egg.

Moon had requested that the dish be on the menu at the banquet, and asked Kim if he could bring a takeaway batch from a famous Pyongyang restaurant, Okryu Gwan.

North Korean officials were happy to oblige, the South’s presidential office said, adding that North Korea had even sent a chef from the restaurant to prepare the dish.

#Pyongyang Naengmyeon was one of the top trending topics on Korean- language Twitter while the lines at restaurants specialising in the dish, like the Eulmildae in a run-down part of Seoul, grew.

Major retailer E-land Mall offered a 2kg bag of “InterKorea summit special Pyongyang naengmyeon” for 6 900 won (R79). – Reuters/African News Agency (ANA)