North Korea continues to restrict overland trade between Sinuiju and Dandong, but is greatly expanding overland trade through Hunchun, Jilin Province, Daily NK has learned.
According to a Daily NK source in China on Tuesday, Chinese traders who used to be active in China’s Liaoning Province have recently been trading with North Korea through Hunchun.
Prior to North Korea’s closure of the border due to COVID-19, most of these traders used cargo trucks to send goods back and forth between Sinuiju and Dandong.
After waiting around for overland trade to restart between Sinuiju and Dandong, Chinese traders are now flocking to Hunchun. They believe that it is better to quickly start trading with North Korea, even if this means paying more for transportation, the source told Daily NK, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
“There are lines of as many as 100 or more 20 to 30-ton cargo trucks laden with exports making their way to Hunchun each day. Recently, all the goods that piled up after North Korea ordered but couldn’t accept are now quickly being sent into the country.”
Auto parts such as rubber tires, ship parts and industrial machinery account for the largest share of the exports Chinese traders have been sending to North Korea through Hunchun, the source said.
Electronics such as desktop computers, notebook computers and mobile phones and a variety of building supplies are entering North Korea through Hunchun as well, he added.
The source further told Daily NK that Chinese traders are exporting high-strength aluminum to North Korea. High-strength aluminum is subject to international sanctions since it is a key material in the centrifuges used to enrich uranium. Customs authorities on both sides of the border are aware of its sanctioned status, but are sending it through anyway under mutual agreement.
North Korea’s expansion of trade through Hunchun while overland trade between Sinuiju and Dandong remains restricted is aimed at importing sanctioned items away from the international community’s watchful eyes, which are focused on Dandong. Unlike in Dandong, Hunchun’s trade zone is located outside of urban areas and is far from private homes.
Daily NK reported earlier this month that North Korean authorities recently dispatched about 350 new North Korean workers to China through Hunchun. Even though their factories are in Dandong, the workers went through Hunchun rather than through the Sinuiju-Dandong route as part of efforts to avoid notice by the international community.
All in all, North Korean authorities appear to view Hunchun as a new overland trade hub given recently expanding trade and human exchanges through the city.
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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