While trade between North Korea and China is showing signs of recovery, the number of North Korean ships calling at Chinese ports has increased recently. The ports that North Korean ships have visited are also diversifying, and seem to be returning to the pre-COVID-19 situation.
A review of data from the 15th to the 24th from ‘Maritime Traffic’, which shows real-time information on the location of ships, found that 28 ships flying the North Korean flag had called at Chinese ports or left traces sailing in waters near China. during this period, said the Voice of the United States. (VOA) broadcasting reported on the 25th.
Until 2017, before international sanctions against North Korea began in earnest, North Korea was sending 20 to 30 ships abroad a week, but since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, less than 10 ships have been sent to China.
However, for the past 10 days, information about the location of ships similar to the one in the past has been confirmed in China or nearby waters.
During this period, the most common destinations for North Korean ships were found to be Longkou and Dailian, with seven ships each calling.
Subsequently, 4 ships and 2 ships were anchored in Zhoushan and Weihai, respectively, and one ship each went to the ports of Penglai, Shidao and Laizhou.
In addition, five ships sent signals from Chinese waters and other places, but left no records of port entry.
VOA previously reported in September that North Korean ships called at five ports: Dailian, Longkou, Zhoushan, Penglai and Qingdao.
About two months later, it was confirmed that the number of Chinese ports visited by North Korean ships had increased to seven. This shows that exchanges between the two countries that use ships have become more active in recent years.
In fact, North Korea-China trade volume shows a steady upward trend every month.
According to China’s General Administration of Customs, trade between North Korea and China last month was $153.86 million, up 48% from the previous month and 268% since last October.
[서울=뉴시스]
