The People’s Republic of China trade relations with northern Korea appear to be robust and growing, despite efforts by President Donald Trump to get PRC President Xi Jinping to do more to curb his dog. Imports from northern Korea have actually fallen 13.2% in the first six months of this year compared to the first six months of last year, but exports have risen 29.1%, for a net increase in trade over 10%.
Huang Songping, representing the PRC’s customs agency, said
As neighbors, China and North Korea maintain normal business and trade exchanges[.]
That’s a pretty clear statement of how interested the PRC is in helping put an end to northern Korea’s nuclear weapons program, contra PRC chit chat and Trump’s efforts to use diplomatic measures involving the PRC to end to it.
Now it’s time to move on without the PRC’s involvement—other than expanded sanctions on PRC companies and persons who do business with the gangland. Other measures, both diplomatic and military, do not need to include the PRC.
If imports from northern Korea are down and exports to them are up … paid for how? In what kind? Perhaps harassment – distracting others from things the PRC would rather pursue with less interruption?