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Exclusive | China-North Korea truck trade may fully resume in 1 month, along with tourism: source

  • Travel agency in China’s bordering Liaoning province is also promoting itineraries to North Korea starting from mid-June
  • But a full reopening of the land border remains unofficial, and a source says the move ‘is entirely up to North Korea’

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A bridge connecting the Chinese city of Dandong with the North Korean city of Sinuiju, seen here in 2018, is expected to fully reopen to trade and tourists next month. Photo: AFP
Ji Siqi

North Korea may reopen its border with China as early as next month to fully resume truck shipments and personnel travel, according to a source briefed by officials on both sides.

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Two travel agencies based in Liaoning province further corroborated to the Post that they have received notice from North Korean authorities that the country will be open to tourists from June 10.

The reclusive communist nation has largely kept its borders closed for three years as part of the world’s harshest measures to guard against the Covid-19 pandemic, but the aggressive tactic has resulted in economic woes and a dire food shortage in the country.

“Pyongyang plans to reopen [China borders] in early June,” the briefed source said about the arrangements.

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Speaking on condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity, the person said customs staff at the Chinese land ports returned to work earlier this year, getting ready for a resumption of cargo truck transport.

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