North Korea-China Trade Reaches $2.27 Billion from January to September, Up 18.6% On-Year

Trade between North Korea and China increased by nearly 20% year-on-year for the first nine months of this year.

According to an analysis of trade statistics from Chinese customs authorities by the Sankei Shimbun today (the 19th), total bilateral trade, combining exports and imports between North Korea and China from January to September, stood at $2.27264 billion (approx. 3.0578 trillion won).

This marks an 18.6% increase compared to the same period last year.

China's exports to North Korea rose 12.1% to $1.78907 billion (approx. 2.4072 trillion won), while its imports surged 50.4% to $483.57 million (approx. 650.6 billion won).

Sankei analyzed that the increase in China's import value was driven by a rise in imports of light industrial products exempted from sanctions, such as wigs and false eyelashes.

North Korea-China trade had dropped significantly after the UN Security Council adopted sanctions resolutions in 2017 regarding North Korea's nuclear and missile development, and was further compressed by North Korea's border closures following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Although it has steadily increased since then, it still remains well below the $4 billion (approx. 5.382 trillion won) recorded between January and September 2017.

However, with the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge connecting Dandong in China's Liaoning Province and Sinuiju in North Korea's North Pyongan Province on the 15th, trade volume is projected to grow substantially.

Sankei anticipated that trade and human exchanges are likely to become more active following the opening of the new bridge.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.