A North Korean freight train crossed the Yalu River and arrived in Dandong, Liaoning Province, China, which borders Sinuiju on the 16th. It is the first time in a year and four months since August 2020 that a North Korean freight train has entered China. It is predicted that North Korea-China trade will resume in earnest two years after North Korea closed the border between North Korea and China in January 2020 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
According to multiple sources in Dandong on the 16th, the North Korean freight train entered Dandong at around 9:10 am (local time) on the 16th through the Chojung-Uui Bridge (中朝友誼橋), an iron bridge connecting North Korea and China. Unlike when two trains were tested in November last year, this time at least 10 trains entered Dandong Station. The train is expected to go to North Korea on the 17th with emergency medicines and daily necessities from China.
A local source said, “From the 17th, there is talk of a freight train with a length of 10 to 20 cars going back and forth between North Korea and China every day.” This means that North Korea-China trade will resume as freight train traffic increases. Earlier, in January 2020, North Korea closed the border between North Korea and China to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and suspended passenger trains first. In August of the same year, even the intermittent freight train service was completely stopped.
On the 16th, a South Korean government official said, “I understand that preparations for resuming trade in the border region between North Korea and China were completed at the beginning of this month. It is not in the mood for the train operation to end as a one-shot.” Shin Beom-cheol, director of the Center for Foreign Affairs and Security at the Korea Institute for National Strategy, said, “It appears that North Korea, which is facing economic difficulties, has resumed trade with China to supply necessary supplies ahead of the 80th anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s birthday in February and the 110th anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s birthday in April.”
Beijing = Correspondent Ki-yong Kim kky@donga.com
By Choi Ji-seon, staff reporter aurinko@donga.com
