Back in Pyongyang, Zhou and his business partners from the DPRK watched a lengthy TV news report about Kim's historic meeting with Xi, including footage of a handshake between the smiling leaders that quickly went viral on social media.

"I closely monitor the international situation regarding the DPRK because changes can instantly and directly affect cross-border trade, but the meeting still came as quite a shock. I could tell that my business partners felt the same way," the 54-year-old said.

"Don't get me wrong－it was a good shock. My business partner from the DPRK said the well-publicized handshake between Xi and Kim was definitely worth celebrating, and offered me a drink. It made us more confident about doing businesses with each other in the future," he said, sitting in his office on Gaoli Street in Dandong.

As he spoke, Zhou glanced at a businesswoman from the DPRK who was talking to one of his employees about placing orders for a wide range of items. "It seems like she needs everything," he said.