China’s trade with North Korea in 2024 fell 5 percent from the previous year to about $2.18 billion, official data showed Saturday, as two-way trade lacked momentum despite Beijing and Pyongyang marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
The latest data came after Beijing-Pyongyang trade in 2023 recovered to roughly 82 percent of the pre-coronavirus pandemic levels of 2019, with the resumption of bilateral freight shipments following the easing of restrictions.
China is North Korea’s closest and most influential ally in economic terms. However, some observers say ties between the countries have been shaky amid increased military cooperation between North Korea and Russia as Moscow continues its military aggression against Ukraine.
Photo taken in November 2024 shows a freight train arriving in the Chinese border city of Dandong from North Korea. (Kyodo)
The Asian neighbors held an opening ceremony last April in Pyongyang for events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of ties, but a closing ceremony was not organized by the end of the year.
Pyongyang’s main export items to China include wigs and artificial eyelashes, with cheap North Korean labor processing raw materials delivered from Chinese dealers and sending market-ready products back.
Bilateral trade exceeded $6.5 billion in 2013 but began dropping sharply in 2018 after U.N. Security Council resolutions were adopted in December 2017 against Pyongyang over its launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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