China Cracks Down on North Korea, For Real

Shannon Tiezzi, Diplomat
Many observers have pointed out that China’s implementation of the sanctions will make or break their overall effectiveness, for the simple reason that China accounts for nearly all of North Korea’s foreign trade. Trade data from the South Korean Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, analyzed by Ruediger Frank for 38 North, reveals that China accounts for a staggering 90 percent of North Korea’s foreign trade. In 2014, Pyongyang’s trade with China comprised nearly billion out of an estimated total of .6 billion in total North Korean foreign trade.