Mikael Larsson and the Taedonggang Beer Factory

Swedish brewer Mikael Larsson finds himself in a conundrum. By chance, he has come across an extraordinary opportunity: Contacts with North Korea's dominant brewery open up new possibilities for getting into business with a company producing a truly exotic premium beer. That would dovetail with his own beer business. However, as the partner brewery is located in Pyongyang, North Korea it opens a can of worms: How to proceed given the political, economic and legal issues any actual collaboration would entail? First, he needs to sort out the context of having a potential partner in a reclusive country currently under international sanctions. He needs to understand the overall environment in which the prospective partner operates. Second, Mikael needs to figure out what Taedonggang brings to the table. Third, what practical steps would be required if he decides to proceed, or are there any creative alternatives? All the while when considering the future, he is dogged by ethical and legal concerns as well as by the economic opportunities beckoning if this could be pulled off