China’s trade with North Korea slumps as nuclear sanctions bite
Customs spokesperson makes unexpected announcement that exports fell 6.7 per cent, while imports dropped 37.9 per cent
China’s trade with North Korea slumped in September, amid United Nations sanctions aimed at deterring Kim Jong-un from pursuing his missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
Exports to the restive state in the month fell 6.7 per cent from a year ago, while imports fell 37.9 per cent, customs administration spokesman Huang Songping said at a briefing in Beijing.
North Korea’s deficit with China in the first nine months more than tripled from the same period of 2016, to US$1.07 billion, he said, without elaborating.
With China’s support, the UN has agreed on two rounds of sanctions since the beginning of August, including bans on North Korean exports of iron, coal, lead, seafood, textiles, and oil import restrictions. The UN stepped up sanctions after Pyongyang fired missiles over Japan and tested its sixth and most powerful nuclear bomb last month.
The breakdown of trade with North Korea was given in response to a reporter’s question at a briefing following publication of China’s overall trade figures for September. The customs agency does not usually release North Korean trade data until later in the month.
There are no records of seafood imports from North Korea, while shipments of coal, iron ore and clothing all declined, Huang said.