While signs of improved China-North Korea relations have emerged, including the resumption of Chinese group tours to North Korea, Beijing has not eased its restrictions on North Korean laborers or trade with Pyongyang, sources indicate.
According to a report by Daily NK on February 25, which cited Chinese sources familiar with North Korean affairs, multiple incidents of mass deportations of North Korean workers have taken place recently in Dandong, Liaoning Province.
North Korean workers in China are reportedly required to notify local public security authorities in advance before leaving their workplaces or dormitories for shopping or outings.
However, in mid-February, one North Korean worker violated this rule by roaming around Dandong without permission and was subsequently caught by Chinese authorities. As a result, not only was the individual expelled, but all North Korean workers employed at the same factory were deported en masse, according to the report.
Strict Rules Lead to Mass Expulsions of North Korean Workers
Some of these workers had already returned to North Korea, with fewer than 100 remaining at the time of the incident. Initially, they were set to return home gradually throughout the year, but following the deportation order, they were all sent back at once.
A similar case occurred in early February when an emergency medical situation arose at a factory in the Dandong Development Zone. Three North Koreans, including a factory worker and a managerial official, rushed to a hospital in downtown Dandong without filing the required travel notification. After the incident was discovered by the Chinese public security officials, over 100 North Korean workers from the factory were forcibly deported.
The Chinese factory owner attempted to appeal to the authorities, explaining that the workers had left under unavoidable circumstances due to the emergency. However, the authorities refused to revoke the expulsion order.
“This mass expulsion of North Korean workers has unsettled the atmosphere in the Dandong Development Zone,” a source told Daily NK. “It’s something that could have been overlooked, but the Chinese government’s continued control over North Korean workers suggests that their stance remains firm.”
In a similar case in September 2024, China expelled all North Korean workers from a factory after one individual was caught wandering around Dandong without authorization.
China Tightens Trade Restrictions on North Korea
In addition to its strict control over North Korean laborers, China is also tightening its oversight of exports to North Korea, particularly through enhanced customs inspections.
Another source familiar with North Korea-related affairs in China reported that Dandong authorities now require at least two separate pre-clearance inspections before goods are officially examined at customs. These additional checks primarily focus on ensuring that luxury items and other prohibited goods under international sanctions are not being smuggled into North Korea.
The inspections are conducted at various logistics warehouses in downtown Dandong, with locations frequently changing. As a result, Chinese transporters handling shipments to North Korea have expressed growing frustration over the increased scrutiny.
Some observers believe that these heightened trade restrictions reflect Beijing’s underlying dissatisfaction with Pyongyang, signaling that despite public displays of camaraderie, China remains cautious in its dealings with North Korea.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
