North Korea-China August Trade Hits Post-2017 High as Exports to China Surge

Trade volume between North Korea and China reached its highest level last month since 2017, when United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea intensified.

According to the Voice of America (VOA) on Saturday (September 19), an analysis of August trade statistics from China's General Administration of Customs showed that total trade volume between North Korea and China during the period stood at approximately $237.88 million (about 330.2 billion won).

This represents a 3.7% increase compared to the previous month ($229.36 million) and a 30.9% rise from the same period last year ($181.71 million).

It also marks the largest August trade figure since 2017, when the UN Security Council adopted a series of sanctions resolutions against North Korea.

North Korea-China trade plunged from $604.26 million in August 2017 to $219.86 million in August 2018 following the implementation of sanctions.

Although it rebounded to $236.38 million in August 2019, August's performance this year surpassed even that figure.

In particular, the growth in North Korea's exports to China was notable.

Last month, North Korea's exports to China totaled $55.03 million, up 24% from $44.37 million in July.

Compared to August of last year ($34.09 million), it surged 61.4%.

This marks the first time North Korea's exports to China have exceeded $50 million since August 2017.

Under sanctions, North Korea's August exports to China had typically hovered between $10 million and $20 million.

North Korea's imports from China stood at $182.85 million, down 1.1% from the previous month ($184.98 million) but up 23.9% from August last year ($147.61 million).

Cumulative trade between North Korea and China from January to August this year reached $1.97393 billion, approaching the $2 billion mark, VOA reported.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.