China deepens North Korea ties
China’s trade with North Korea jumped 22% year‑on‑year in January–February after bilateral transport links resumed — a clear boost to Pyongyang at a time the US has delayed President Xi‑Trump summit talks, giving Beijing extra diplomatic room. Analysts say the summit postponement and the trade spike together let China consolidate influence on the peninsula as Seoul updates its five‑year inter‑Korean plan. (reuters.com)(cnn.com)(upi.com)
China’s customs data show two‑way trade with North Korea in January–February reached 2.94 billion yuan (about $427 million), with Chinese exports to the DPRK at 2.31 billion yuan and imports at 625.6 million yuan. (koreatimes.co.kr)) That two‑month total is the highest for the period in nine years, following a 2025 full‑year rebound to roughly $2.73 billion — near pre‑pandemic levels recorded in 2019. (koreatimes.co.kr)) Regular passenger rail service between Beijing/Pyongyang and Dandong/Pyongyang resumed on March 12 after a roughly six‑year suspension, with Beijing–Pyongyang runs scheduled multiple times weekly and daily Dandong connections. (global.chinadaily.com.cn)) China’s flag carrier Air China listed a restart of direct Beijing–Pyongyang flights beginning March 30, operating once weekly on Mondays through mid‑May before a reduced June schedule, according to booking platforms and carrier notices. (bloomberg.com)) Analysts and Chinese sources say President Trump’s announced request to delay his Xi summit by “a month or so” has given Beijing extra diplomatic room to deepen ties with Pyongyang while U.S. attention is focused on the Middle East. (msn.com)) A recent Reuters examination documented new roadworks, port upgrades and border infrastructure on China’s side of the frontier, details that analysts say increase Beijing’s leverage as Seoul finalizes a new five‑year inter‑Korean plan discussed at a March 19 meeting chaired by Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young. (usnews.com))
