Chinese logistics companies with experience shipping cargo to North Korea by truck were recently issued so-called “river crossing passes,” Daily NK has learned. This development suggests that preparations are underway to completely restart overland trade between China and North Korea.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, a reporting partner in China told Daily NK on Apr. 18 that earlier this month, China Customs issued the passes to logistics companies with past experience trading with North Korea. Companies with the passes can cross over the land route connecting Dandong in China and Sinuiju in North Korea.
As of Apr. 18, six-passenger vans have occasionally been observed passing on the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge connecting Dandong and Sinuiju, but cargo-carrying trucks have not been seen.
Rumors suggest, however, that because Chinese logistics companies are receiving passes from China Customs, overland cargo transport via the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge and other routes will soon reopen.
Chinese trucking companies can receive the passes if they present their business registration, a certificate demonstrating prior experience directly engaging in cargo trade with a North Korean trading company, and citizen cards.
The reporting partner said most of the Chinese logistics companies that received passes are based in Dandong.
Each company selected by China Customs can around 20 passes. This includes passes for drivers and personnel who load and offload the trucks.
China Customs charges about RMB 500 to 600 a person for the passes. Logistics companies thus paid about RMB 10,000 to RMB 12,000 each. One yuan is equal to around 0.14 cents.
The passes are valid for six months, so many Chinese trade workers believe overland trade between China and North Korea will completely restart within six months, at the very least. There is even talk that cargo truck traffic between the two countries could restart after the Apr. 25 holiday marking the foundation of the North Korean military.
Chinese trading companies are preparing items to load onto the cargo trucks once they start rolling. Most are securing building materials, particularly paint and other finishing supplies.
If overland trade between China and North Korea fully restarts, North Korean workers in China will likely be repatriated as well, the reporting partner speculated.
“If cargo trucks are allowed to use the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, North Korea will likely return its workers home and send new workers overseas.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
Daily NK works with a network of reporting partners who live inside North Korea and China. Their identities remain anonymous due to security concerns. More information about Daily NK’s reporting partner network and information gathering activities can be found on our FAQ page here.
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