China’s trade with North Korea is expected to post a decline in 2024 from the previous year, as official data for the January-November period showed Wednesday a 6 percent fall on year amid speculation about worsening bilateral ties.
The total value of China’s trade with North Korea amounted to some $1.93 billion in the 11 months, compared with about $2.05 billion a year earlier.
In 2023, Beijing-Pyongyang trade recovered to roughly 82 percent of the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 with the resumption of bilateral freight shipments following the easing of restrictions. In the first half of 2024, it remained below pre-COVID levels.
Photo taken in November 2024 shows a freight train arriving in the Chinese border city of Dandong from North Korea. (Kyodo)
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 Pyongyang and Moscow.
The Asian neighbors celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
While North Korea’s imports from China have decreased in the 11-month period, its exports have shown a slight increase, according to the official data.
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. Some of those items have also been imported to Japan, according to sources familiar with the matter.
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