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Sunday, June 7, 2026

North Koreans in China

North Koreans in China occupy a precarious and little-reported space — defectors living in hiding, labor workers dispatched by the state, traders navigating sanctions, and smugglers moving goods across the Yalu and Tumen rivers. Daily NK covers life inside China as it intersects with North Korea, drawing on sources on both sides of the border to report what mainstream outlets miss.

View of the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge spanning the Yalu River between Dandong, China, and Sinuiju, North Korea.

China blocks North Korean factory workers en masse

A Chinese garment factory in Liaoning province attempted to bring roughly 100 North Korean female workers into China in January, but local authorities rejected...
The flag of China with a view of a river behind it.

WeChat surveillance ensnares two N. Korean women planning to reach South Korea

Two North Korean defector women who exchanged WeChat messages about reaching South Korea were arrested by Chinese police in early February and remain in...

Russian goods shop in Dandong reveals North Korea-China-Russia cooperation

A shop dealing solely in Russian goods in Dandong, China—just across from the customs house in the North Korean city of Sinuiju, North Pyongan...

Height, songbun, and accordion skills: What it takes to land a North Korean restaurant...

With North Korea expected to expand its overseas workforce, more young women are taking lessons in singing and musical instruments with the hope of...

North Korea’s elite Ponghak Beer enters Chinese market seeking foreign currency

North Korea's Ponghak Beer, the beer of choice among North Korea's elite, has appeared in the Chinese market. Alongside Taedonggang Beer, which was already widely...
china, defector, defections

Barred from hospitals, North Korean defector faces worsening tuberculosis and despair

Some North Korean defectors living in China are still unable to receive hospital treatment even for serious illnesses due to their status as illegal...
trade, border, china, trading, chinese

N. Korean defectors in China lose savings to trusted individuals who exploit illegal status

Female defectors working part-time to support families back home have no recourse when Chinese nationals refuse to return money, unable to use banks or...
Aerial view of a bridge spanning river.

N. Korea’s spy agency inspects foreign currency traders in China to prevent embezzlement

The Reconnaissance Information General Bureau has been auditing officials at medium and large trading companies in Shenyang and Dandong since October, questioning their contacts,...
View of the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge spanning the Yalu River between Dandong, China, and Sinuiju, North Korea.

North Korea abruptly recalls trade representatives from China, replaces some with new officials

North Korea has abruptly recalled trade representatives from China and replaced some with new officials in an apparent bid to boost foreign currency earnings...
The flag of China with a view of a river behind it.

North Korean defector beaten by in-laws after failed escape attempt in China

A North Korean defector in China's Liaoning province who ran away from her Chinese husband was caught and savagely beaten by her Chinese in-laws....

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