Market research
North Korea's top-quality mineral water is heading south. The Seoul-based Shinmyung International Co. said the first shipment of the Mount Myohyang mineral water, totalling 15 tons, arrived at Incheon Port in South Korea last Friday (31 December) and was undergoing customs clearance. The brand will hit the South Korean market by the middle of this month.
A 500 ml bottle of the water, branded "Myohyangsan Saemmul," will sell for KRW700 to KRW800 (US$0.68 to US$0.77), slightly higher than average for bottled water products in South Korea.
Shinmyung said that there had been a conflict with North Korean authorities over the country of origin labelling, for which the North demanded use of its formal name, "the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," rather than "North Korea," as the country is commonly referred to in the South.
Sectors: Water
