In line with international opinion, ordinary North Koreans believe that efforts to change their country’s behavior have little chance of success without full Chinese cooperation.
A source from Chongjin in North Hamkyung Province told Daily NK on the 14th, “Business between our trading companies and China has continued ever since the UN resolution was adopted.” Analogizing North Korea’s current economic reliance on China with the situation during the Korean War, he went on, “Cadres and the ordinary people say that ‘because there is the Chinese People’s Volunteers, Chosun will never be harmed.’”
“Most people’s opinion is that [the international community] won’t be able to stop Chosun from testing nuclear bombs or developing missiles no matter what sanctions are applied,” the source went on. “If there is no Chinese participation [in sanctions], there will be no solution to the nuclear problem, and as long as Chinese support keeps coming they will not be able to force Kim Jong Eun to give in.”
China uses a pipeline between the countries to send more than 500,000 tons of oil annually to the ‘Baekma Fuel Depot’ in North Pyongan Province, while inter-governmental trade occurs through North Korea’s West Sea ports (Songrim, Haeju, Nampo).
Everyone in North Korea knows that China is keeping their nation afloat, the source said, explaining, “Cadres are aware that ‘if China were to shut off the oil pipeline for just one year, that would be the end of Chosun.’”
In particular, he went on, “Military supplies, including for missiles, go from countries all over the world to China, and then into North Korea. They come in through Namyang, Shinuiju and Hyesan customs houses, all in cooperation with the Chinese.”
