North Korea has recently eased quarantine measures in the China-North Korea border region, but overland trade remains stagnant. Instead, the country is increasing freight train-based trade, with much of the imported cargo focusing on high-end food items and building materials.
According to a list of items a large North Korean trading company imported via freight train late last month, foodstuffs accounted for 80% of the imported items. Daily NK obtained the list from a source in North Korea on Thursday.
The list included many kinds of seasonings, including clam soup stock powder, hard-boiled beef seasonings, 13 Spices seasoning, meat powder, fish powder, red pepper paste, clam soy sauce, chicken broth, Lee Kum Kee oyster sauce, stew seasonings, stir-fry seasonings, ginger broth, lemon broth and soy sauce.
The imports also included dried fruits, fruit drinks, baked goods, candy and confections, including dried plums, bananas, jujubes, mangoes, peaches, grapes, apricots and pineapples.
In addition, the imports included dried fish, seaweed, coffee beverages, instant coffee, red noodles, corn, sweet corn, walnuts, canned foods and all sorts of cured or processed bar snacks.
Considering that the list included many foods that are hard to find in ordinary North Korean markets, the imports are presumably for consumption by the country’s economically affluent classes or delivery to restaurants frequented by the elite.
The trading company also imported a great deal of construction materials. Late last month, the company imported lime powder, rubber, pressed wood, granite slates, door locks, aluminum window panes, electrical switches, high-pressure water jets, rubber stoppers, electrical boards, electrical wire, insulated wire and thermal sheets. Most of these supplies are used in small-scale construction projects.
The company imported medical items as well, including skin ointment Zovirax, Entercavir, Meprobamate and a host of other fever reducers, pain medicine, eye drops and children’s medication. It also imported medical breathing devices, syringes and nutritional supplements like vitamins.
Moreover, the company brought in filtered cigarettes, shoes, slippers, sneakers, buttons, insoles, shoe polish and other industrial goods.
Freight train-based imports increase
In recent months, North Korea has increased imports via freight train.
According to a source in China, freight trains operating between Dandong and Sinuiju have lengthened to 24 cars since last month. As recently as May, the trains had just 20 cars.
However, freight trains to North Korea still depart once a day for Sinuiju at around 7:30 AM.
The trains are only allowed to import items ordered by the government.
“When the state issues an order [to import goods], North Korean and Chinese railroad authorities exchange a detailed list of items to import and export,” the source said. “The system is set up to make it impossible to import items outside the list.”
Translated by David Black. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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